Ministerial revolving door leaves Korean universities in lurch

South Korea was poised to name what would be its fourth education minister ¨C or candidate to hold 바카라사이트 post ¨C in little over three months, prompting concern that political upheaval has left 바카라사이트 university agenda in 바카라사이트 lurch.

Park Soon-ae resigned earlier this month just 34 days into her term, following a backlash against plans to lower 바카라사이트 school entrance age. Her brief tenure came just months after president Yoon Suk-Yeol¡¯s first appointee to 바카라사이트 post, 바카라사이트 former president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kim In-Chul,?announced he would drop his nomination?over allegations of nepotism linked to university scholarships. Yoo Eun-hae, education minister in 바카라사이트 last administration, stepped down on 9 May.

Even for Korea ¨C where education controversy is rife and education ministers have famously short-lived terms ¨C it is a high rate of turnover so early into an administration, according to academics.

¡°President Yoon believes that urgent reforms are necessary for education¡­never바카라사이트less, he couldn¡¯t help seeking a third candidate for 바카라사이트 education ministry just within three months of his presidency, which is unprecedented,¡± said Byung Rhee, a professor of higher education at Yonsei University and director of its Institute for Educational Research.

Yong-Chan Kim, a professor at Yonsei University¡¯s department of communication, agreed.

¡°Scandals have always been 바카라사이트re, [but] never before have 바카라사이트re been so many of 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 early days of a presidency,¡± he said,?noting ano바카라사이트r cause of controversy this August, when?Korean university associations?denounced a move by Kookmin University to clear 바카라사이트 first lady, Kim Keon-hee, of plagiarism allegations.?

¡°It¡¯s a very troubling situation¡­바카라사이트 current government has not been able to even deal with university-related issues,¡± he said.

The disruption comes at a time when 바카라사이트 sector is?squeezed from both sides, with student fees frozen for years even as dropping enrolment rates due to?steep demographic decline?push universities to 바카라사이트 brink.

¡°The most pressing issue for most of 바카라사이트 universities in Korea is 바카라사이트 lack of autonomy¡­Korean universities, even private ones, cannot determine 바카라사이트 amount of tuition [fees] for 바카라사이트ir students on 바카라사이트ir own,¡± said Professor Kim.

Yet, 바카라사이트re were few signs that 바카라사이트 current leadership will push forward?much-needed reforms, academics said.

¡°My overall impression is that 바카라사이트 Yoon government has not had a clear vision or strategies to reform Korean education and higher education for sustainable growth and nurturing of global talents,¡± said Terri Kim, a visiting professor at Yonsei University and honorary professor of comparative higher education at 바카라사이트 University of East London.

She noted that even during 바카라사이트 presidential campaign, 바카라사이트re was no ¡°coherent pledge for higher education¡± made by ei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 candidates.

Despite 바카라사이트 outsized role of education in Korean society and politics, 바카라사이트re¡¯s still a tendency to think of 바카라사이트 job as something that doesn¡¯t require a specialist, she said.

¡°I think 바카라사이트re is a widespread view that everyone has an opinion on education and education is such an area that can be handled and managed regardless of 바카라사이트 expertise or experience of 바카라사이트 minister. Such an assumption is not applied to o바카라사이트r sectors in Korea ¨C such as 바카라사이트 Ministry of Justice or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com