» 2010 » FebruaryThe South Korean education system produces students with some of the world’s highest test scores in math and science. According to the most recent Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, their eighth graders ranked second in math performance when compared with international peers from 58 countries. In science, they ranked fourth. I recently asked Hahn Yong Jin, professor of education at Korea University, about the history of the high student-teacher ratio in South Korea. “The student-teacher ratio in South Korea used to be about 100:1 in the 1960s and 1970s,” explained Professor Hahn. “After the Korean war ended in 1953, we experienced a baby boom. School attendance [...] In South Korea, teaching is more than just a high-status profession with a high starting salary; it’s also one of the most stable careers. Lee Sang Min, assistant professor of education at Korea University, said: “After the economic crisis in 1997, most Koreans considered stability as the most important thing when choosing a job. Therefore, many [...] According to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Women were more likely than men to be enrolled in college and were more likely to have received a bachelor’s degree. Twenty-nine percent of women were attending college during the October when they were age 22, compared with 25 percent of men. Moreover, [...] In education-obsessed South Korea, the potential for earning a lot of money as a teacher is great. For example, 46-year-old math instructor and cram school tutor Woo Hyeong-cheol makes $4 million a year teaching Web-based classes. His salary is higher than most of the top professional baseball players in South Korea. And he’s just as [...] Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s top-ranked universities, is the 151st best university in the world according to the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2009. It was founded by Christian missionaries in 1885. Yonsei University has roughly 30,000 students and 400,000 alumni. The motto of the university is, “The truth will set you free,” which is taken [...] Korea University (KU), one of South Korea’s top-ranked universities, is the 211th best university in the world according to the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2009. Roughly 25 percent of Korean politicians and CEOs are alumni, including South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and world champion figure skater Kim Yu-na. More than 35,000 students attend KU. The College of [...] Within South Korea, the three most prestigious universities are Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. Collectively, they are referred to by the acronym SKY. All three SKY universities are located in Seoul. Graduating from a SKY university often leads to an enviable job, salary, and social class. |
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