This information is intended to provide the background context of structure and control, within which the curriculum and assessment frameworks are implemented.
The current education system in Korea has been built from scratch since the 1950s. Following the formal establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948, when the constitution was drawn up, an education law was 9enacted on the basis of democratic principles (see section 1.2.1). From this, the current system has evolved.
The national Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) is responsible through various 'bureaux' for all aspects of school education, vocational education and lifelong learning , education policy planning and human resources policy, educational welfare, science and technology policy, educational research policy, and international cooperation. (http://english.mest.go.kr/index.jsp)
In accordance with the (1991) law of local autonomy, MEST delegates much of the budget planning process and major administrative decisions to seven municipal and nine provincial district offices of education (known as municipal and provincial education authorities, MPEAs, or metropolitan and provincial offices of education, MPOEs respectively). In addition, subordinate local offices of education (LOEs) are established in counties and equivalent administrative areas. Each MPEA or MPOE has a board of members elected by the local council, which makes decisions pertaining to the respective local area. Members of the board are selected by a voting committee of the school councils established in every elementary, secondary and special school. The positions are honorary positions only and no member of a political party may be selected. Over half the members must have at least 10 years' educational or educational administration experience. The regular number of board members is a minimum of seven and a maximum of 15 depending on the size of the city or province. The principal executive officer of the MPEA or MPOE is the Superintendent of Education. Elected by the majority of the members, the Superintendent serves for four years. The qualifications for the position are established by law and the Superintendent must have at least 15 years' experience in the education profession.88
Primary (known as elementary school) education for children aged 6-12 (Years 1 to 6) and junior high school education, for students aged 12-15, is free (government-funded) and compulsory throughout the country.45 High schools (students aged 15+) charge tuition fees to supplement government funding and funds come from parents and regional entitities.39, 88
The central Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) transfers around 80 per cent of its education budget to the metropolitan and provincial offices of education for funding elementary and secondary education. The remaining amount is directly managed as national funds by MEST. Central government also bears the cost of teacher remuneration in compulsory education. Additional funds required at the regional level are provided by local government, and/or students' tuition fees.88
Private schools exist at every level of education, often run by religious foundations. 78
Private schools are financed by tuition fees, support from national or regional entities and resources from the schools' founding bodies. Reliance upon parental tuition fees is high.88
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) does provide some assistance in the funding of private schools by, for example, subsidising schools' deficits in personnel and operation costs; offering tax exemptions on the property and operational expenses of private schools; offering loans to raise funds for facility expansion; and making up a part of teachers' pension funds. 45,43
The national curriculum is mandatory for all schools from kindergarten to upper secondary, including private schools.24 In addition to the curriculum regulations, the regulations that control student enrolment and staff in publicly-funded schools also apply to private schools. 78