An Educational Reform of School Culture for Sustainable Development : A Case of Educational Reform in Korea

Abstract

The Presidential Commission On Education Reform in Korea (PCER, hereafter) has presented reform proposals to the President on the four separate occasions. The proposals are being implemented by the Committee on the Education Reform Implementation: Although the Minister of Education is in charge of the implementation, Ministers of twelve departments are involved in the implementation of the reform proposals. The reform proposals are broken down into 120 (action plan) tasks, which can be categorized into four areas: Primary and secondary education (53 tasks): establishment of school council, introduction of student records, activation of after school programs, improvement in conditions of education, reform of school culture and etc. Higher education (19 tasks): encouragement of autonomy for college admission quota, implementation of a minimum credit system for college major, improvement in college admission procedures and etc. Continuing education and vocational training (25 tasks): establishing vocational education and training system (legislation of three laws on vocational training) and etc. Building up an infrastructure for education: increase in educational budget to 5% of GNP, establishment of cyber information center for academic research, establishment of educational deregulation committee and etc.