The School Equalization Policy of Korea:Past Failures and Proposed Measure for Reform

This paper argues that Koreas educational equalization policy hasfailed to achieve its major policy goals, which are to improve education-al equality and to reduce the economic burden of private tutoring andminimize the negative side effects of exam-oriented education. We alsosuggest that the equalization policy has lowered levels of academicachievement by limiting students and parents choice of schools, andby strengthening the governments control over schools. We alsoexplain the political-economic reasons why the equalization policy hasbeen maintained over the last 30 years, despite its evident negativeeffects. We conclude that the equalization policy should be overhauledthrough a number of reform measures, such as providing school choice,disclosing the differences between schools, increasing the autonomy ofschool units, and strengthening governmental support for students withlower academic achievement.

keywords: equalization policy, school choice, private tutoring, educa-tional equity Lee Ju-Ho (Yi, Ju-ho) is Professor at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) School ofPublic Policy and Management and Director of the Center for Education PolicyResearch and I, equalization policy, school choice, private tutoring, educa-tional equity Lee Ju-Ho (Yi, Ju-ho) is Professor at the Korea Development Institute (KDI) School ofPublic Policy and Management and Director of the Center for Education PolicyResearch and I

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Article Contents

Vol.44 No.1

The School Equalization Policy of Korea:Past Failures and Proposed Measure for Reform

Abstract

Reference

Korea Journal