By the purpose of the private education, 44.3 percent picked for supplementation of regular school class, 25.2 percent for advance learning ahead of regular school curriculum, 14.4 percent for preparation for higher school and 10.8 percent for uneasiness when not receiving the private education while others do. (image: Marie/Flickr)
SEOUL, Korea, Feb 28 (Korea Bizwire) – Parents’ burden in the cost of out-of-school private lessons keeps declining since 2009, although the diminishing amount is small, according to a government statistics.
Statistics Korea announced on February 27 that the cost of private education spent in Korea last year totaled 18.6 trillion won ($17.4 billion), a 2.3-percent decrease from the previous year and the amount has kept its declining trend since 2009.
By school grades, those elementary school students spent 7.7 trillion won, middle school students 5.8 trillion won, and high school students 5.1 trillion won, respectively.
Meanwhile, 68.8 percent of students joined the after-school private education, namely almost seven out of 10. Also, the rate kept decreasing from 77.0 percent in 2007, to 73.6 percent in 2010 and 69.4 percent in 2012. The private lesson participation rate is also decreasing as they go to higher grade of schools from 81.8 percent of elementary school students to 69.5 percent of middle school students and 49.2 percent of high school students.
However, private education expense for per student marked 239,000 won a month, 3,000 won higher than the previous year’s 236,000 won. The figure is even higher if calculated by the real number of students joining the private education, 347,000 won per student.
By region, Seoul spent the most with 328,000 won per student and South Jeolla Province ranked the bottom with 158,000 won.
By the purpose of the private education, 44.3 percent picked for supplementation of regular school class, 25.2 percent for advance learning ahead of regular school curriculum, 14.4 percent for preparation for higher school and 10.8 percent for uneasiness when not receiving the private education while others do.
An official at the Ministry of Education said, “The cost of private education on the subjects like Korean language, mathematics, social studies and sciences decreased a little bit, but it increased in certain subjects like music, art, athletics and English.”
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