Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Education nominee Choi Kyo-jin said on 2nd, "The high school credit system was prepared based on the opinions from the field, so it is absolutely not a matter of cancellation."
During a confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly's Education Committee that day, when Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jin Sun-mi asked, "Do you think the high school credit system is being implemented properly?" he responded as such.
The high school credit system allows students to select subjects according to their career paths and aptitudes, acquire and accumulate credits for subjects that meet the completion criteria, and graduate. It has been fully implemented for first-year high school students this year.
However, there have been criticisms in the education sector that the system does not consider reality. This system, which requires a variety of elective subjects to be offered, needs adequate teacher availability, but some regions are experiencing a shortage of teachers. There are also criticisms that maintaining relative evaluation of the grades distorts students' subject choices. The change from a 9-point grading system to a 5-point system is due to the use of relative evaluation for elective subjects.
Choi also stated, "We should have prepared thoroughly and gradually, but now that we have implemented it this year, teachers are expressing many difficulties and criticisms," while adding, "We will use the criticisms from the field as nourishment for policy innovation."
He further mentioned, "While listening to the opinions from the field, I will provide countermeasures to teachers and the public," and said, "I will make efforts to discuss issues related to teachers and entrance exams with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Council on Education."
Choi also added, "I will do my best to ensure that students do not become mere tools for exams, and that they can trust schools and the Ministry of Education," and said, "While parents may not be fully satisfied, I will strive to ensure they can support their children's growth with peace of mind."