Two children, first and third graders, attend online classes via a tablet and notebook PC at their home in Gwangju, southwestern South Korea, on April 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 10 (Korea Bizwire) — Online courses that have replaced regular school classes to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have triggered concerns that educational inequality is getting worse.
South Korean civic group World Without Worries for Private Education conducted a survey of 1,000 men and women across the country, 62 percent of whom agreed with the notion that online classes have made it easier for parents’ education and financial background to impact educational inequality.
All groups regardless of age, region, family status, and household income tended to agree more to the notion than those who did not, representing the perspective that the majority of the people are worried about widening educational inequality.
Age-wise, 63.8 percent and 66.5 percent, respectively, of parents in their 40s and 50s with children enrolled in school agreed the educational inequality is worsening.
Another 65.4 percent said that students won’t be able to learn properly with online courses.
Roughly 70 percent of respondents with children enrolled in elementary, middle, or high school said their children wouldn’t understand much in online classes.
Asked whether the 21st National Assembly should prioritize enacting legislation designed to close the educational gap caused by the coronavirus, 63.8 percent responded affirmatively.
“Parents’ backgrounds often pass onto their children via the education system,” said the civic group.
“A separate law is required to track down ‘privileges for the few’ generated by the education system, develop blueprints to resolve educational inequality, and properly implement them.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
