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Debate on 3-No Policy People’s Consensus Needed for Repeal | |||
Controversy flared up recently over whether or not to repeal the government’s so-called “three-no” education policy. The policy refers to the prohibition of universities from administering their own entrance exams, disallowing high schools from being ranked and banning universities from accepting students in return for donations. Major universities stood up against it saying that the prohibitions are a major stumbling bloc to the development of our universities. “The competition with foreign schools is imminent and such obsolete restrictions strangling school development are no longer justifiable,” according to school authorities. However, President Roh Moo-hyun made clear his stance not to retreat even a step as far as the policy is concerned. Roh said the schools are all-out to break the bastion safeguarding high school standardization that he said greatly contributed to developing national education. “What’s wrong with the policy? The lift of restrictions will inevitably fan the demand for costly private lessons and could deepen education disparity between haves and have-nots,” the President said. But government attitude toward the policy that has been in force since 1998 seems to be too rigid. We would not deny the fact that the restriction policy has contributed to our education to a certain degree and that not a few people support the policy currently. However, it is also true that our education environment has changed so much over the last 10 years that consideration should be given to provide our universities with more autonomy in the selection of their students. Bilateral discussions in depth on whether to keep it or not are considered necessary for building up national consensus. It is also needed to think of the restrictions separately instead of treating them as a package. The matter of allowing universities to accept students in return for donations is considered to be the least controversial among them. Due to financial difficulties, universities can in no way make both ends meet by relying only on tuition, alumni donations and corporate funding. There is no reason the schools shouldn’t get people’s understanding as to the viable solution they offer. However, admissions based on donations should be kept to a minimum and the money donated should be handled in a transparent manner. Education is a crucial matter deciding national destiny. Both sides need to accept the position of the other and review the matter seriously. |