Private education in early childhood has little measurable impact on children’s language development, problem-solving abilities, or later academic achievement. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 16, (Korea Bizwire) — Private education during early childhood does not significantly enhance children’s language, problem-solving skills, or future academic performance, according to a new study by South Korea’s leading child policy research institute.
Kim Eun-young, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, presented the findings Monday during a Ministry of Education seminar aimed at reshaping public perceptions of early private education.
The study, titled The Effects of Early Childhood Private Education on Development, found no measurable link between early private tutoring and improvements in language or vocabulary skills, even in the short term. It also found no correlation with cognitive abilities such as problem-solving.
While children who participated in arts-focused private programs showed slightly stronger self-regulatory abilities, the overall impact of private education on emotional and behavioral traits — including conscientiousness, self-esteem, openness, and empathy — was negligible. Notably, children with more frequent academic tutoring experiences were found to have lower self-esteem.
Furthermore, early private education did not translate into improved academic performance in elementary school, nor did it meaningfully affect children’s sense of self-worth or life satisfaction. In some cases, negative effects were observed.
Researchers emphasized that these findings held true even after controlling for factors such as IQ, household income, and parental education, suggesting that the independent effect of private tutoring may be overstated.
“The results imply that factors other than private education may play a more crucial role in a child’s development,” Kim said, warning that excessive tutoring may actually hinder holistic growth by reducing time for rest and play.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
