South Korea's entrance exam chief quits amid backlash over grueling English test.
The head of Korea's Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, Oh Seung-keol, has stepped down after complaints that an English language proficiency test he designed was too challenging for students. The test, a crucial component of South Korea's notoriously demanding university admission process, saw only 3% of exam-takers achieve top marks in the English section.
Critics pointed to some questions as being overly complex, including one asking students to analyze the philosophical views of Immanuel Kant and Thomas Hobbes, another probing the nature of time and clocks, and a third exploring the concept of existence through video game avatars. The test's use of abstract concepts and jargon led many to question its legitimacy.
The controversy has sparked renewed calls for reform in South Korea's education system, which is notorious for its intense pressure on students that can lead to teenage depression and suicide rates among the highest globally. Earlier this month, South Korea's national assembly approved an amended law restricting private English-language testing institutes from administering entrance exams to preschoolers.
Oh Seung-keol apologized for causing concern among test-takers and their parents, as well as confusion in the college entrance exam process. He cited a "heavy sense of responsibility" for the English section not aligning with absolute evaluation principles. The agency behind the test also released a separate apology, acknowledging that it had failed to meet its goal of reducing students' academic burden.
The use of the portmanteau 'culturtainment' in the exam has raised eyebrows, even among academics. Leeds Beckett University lecturer Stuart Moss expressed surprise at the phrase's inclusion and argued that it should not have been used due to its non-common usage.
As tensions surrounding South Korea's education system continue to simmer, Oh Seung-keol's resignation may be seen as a small step towards reform. However, the long-standing pressure on students remains a pressing concern for many.
The head of Korea's Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, Oh Seung-keol, has stepped down after complaints that an English language proficiency test he designed was too challenging for students. The test, a crucial component of South Korea's notoriously demanding university admission process, saw only 3% of exam-takers achieve top marks in the English section.
Critics pointed to some questions as being overly complex, including one asking students to analyze the philosophical views of Immanuel Kant and Thomas Hobbes, another probing the nature of time and clocks, and a third exploring the concept of existence through video game avatars. The test's use of abstract concepts and jargon led many to question its legitimacy.
The controversy has sparked renewed calls for reform in South Korea's education system, which is notorious for its intense pressure on students that can lead to teenage depression and suicide rates among the highest globally. Earlier this month, South Korea's national assembly approved an amended law restricting private English-language testing institutes from administering entrance exams to preschoolers.
Oh Seung-keol apologized for causing concern among test-takers and their parents, as well as confusion in the college entrance exam process. He cited a "heavy sense of responsibility" for the English section not aligning with absolute evaluation principles. The agency behind the test also released a separate apology, acknowledging that it had failed to meet its goal of reducing students' academic burden.
The use of the portmanteau 'culturtainment' in the exam has raised eyebrows, even among academics. Leeds Beckett University lecturer Stuart Moss expressed surprise at the phrase's inclusion and argued that it should not have been used due to its non-common usage.
As tensions surrounding South Korea's education system continue to simmer, Oh Seung-keol's resignation may be seen as a small step towards reform. However, the long-standing pressure on students remains a pressing concern for many.
i dont blame oh seung keol tho he was trying to make kids super prep but 3% pass rate? thats crazy 
and im not surprised about the questions being all deep and stuff, it's like they're trying to turn students into philosophy majors lol 
clock time and existence through video game avatars? that's just ridiculous 
i feel bad for the parents who have to deal with all this stress and pressure on their kids, education system reform is def needed ASAP 
and I'm thinking about how awesome it is that cats have those little pink pads on their paws? Like, they're not even actually feeling the keys with those pads, but somehow they can still make such beautiful music. And have you ever noticed how some cats just kinda... stop playing at random? It's like, what was going through that feline brain?! 
I wonder if it's because they're trying to conserve energy or something. Anyway, back to South Korea... yeah, I don't know, man. Those questions on the English test sound super tough, but like, can you imagine having to analyze Immanuel Kant and Thomas Hobbes while also trying to survive middle school? 
My grandma used to say that learning is just like cooking a meal, you gotta have the right ingredients (like, um, patience and hard work) or it's gonna be a disaster. Anyway, I'm off to watch more cat videos now 
. The philosophical questions and abstract concepts are straight up confusing, especially for a test that's already designed to be super challenging.
. I guess this is just another example of how our education system is trying to be too clever for its own good.
. Maybe it's time we take a more holistic approach to education? 
THE FACT THAT ONLY 3% OF STUDENTS GOT TOP MARKS IN ENGLISH IS JUST PLAIN ALARMING!!! 
AND YET, WE'RE STILL EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THIS SYSTEM WITHOUT CHALLENGING IT? I DON'T THINK SO!!! 
need some serious reform in korea's edu system ASAP 
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And yeah, 'culturtainment' is definitely a weird inclusion... who uses that phrase in an exam? 
The whole thing is super messed up, but I'm not sure if the solution is to get rid of Oh Seung-keol altogether. Some people would say that's exactly what we need – fresh blood and a new perspective... or do we just keep going around in circles? 
It's like they're trying to break the students' spirits instead of helping them learn and grow 
Like, who needs to analyze philosophical views or explore video game avatars in an entrance exam? 
. And what's with the 'culturtainment' nonsense? Is this really the best we can do to make learning fun? 
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my heart goes out to those students who have to deal with this kind of pressure. maybe oh seung-keol quitting is a good start, but we need more than just one person to make a change. education should be about learning, not just about passing exams 