In Korea, 25% of International School Students Are Koreans!
English is so important! These days parents tend to think it would be better for children to learn English as early as possible and they're very active in sending their children to study abroad or to international schools in Korea.
A recent survey shows that out of 10,493 students enrolled in various international schools, more than 25 percent are Koreans, although according to common practice, local students usually are prohibited to attend international schools. Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo suggests Korean parents that, the easiest way to get their children into a foreign-language school is to obtain permanent residency in Ecuador!
A recent survey shows that out of 10,493 students enrolled in various international schools, more than 25 percent are Koreans, although according to common practice, local students usually are prohibited to attend international schools. Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo suggests Korean parents that, the easiest way to get their children into a foreign-language school is to obtain permanent residency in Ecuador!
Five days in Ecuador is enough, since all the paperwork can be done in a day. This is what five parents were told by a study-abroad agency in Gangman, Seoul, last week. One mother who gave her name as Han (41) decided it was worth it so her six-year-old daughter can beat the prohibition on Korean children studying in international schools.Currently, the government does not recognize the academic records of Korean students attending international schools. Those who wish to go to Korean universities have to get a high school graduate equivalency certificate by passing certain exams. But from next year, a change in government policy recognizes Korean students’ academic records from international schools and they can enter universities in Korea without restrictions.
“By investing only five days, you can save a lot of money and send your child to an international school here. Your child can learn English without having to go abroad for years, and you don’t have to spend enormous amounts of money overseas,” Han said. Since it costs at least W40-60 million (US$1=W1,049) a year to study in Canada, Europe, or the U.S., international schools in Korea are a tempting option for Korean parents.
There are plenty of adverts for such offers as Ecuadorian permanent residency for only US$9,000. To promote the economy, the Ecuadorian government amended laws at the end of 2005 to encourage investor immigration. An official at the Korean Embassy in Ecuador said Korean parents with children who came to get permanent residency can frequently be spotted in the lobby of hotels in downtown Quito, the capital. Korean Ecuadorians say some brokers sell permanent residency in cahoots with local lawyers. They warn Koreans to be careful because some have fallen victim t o fraud, losing their money without getting residency.
The aim of relaxing qualifications to enter international schools in Korea was to decrease the migration of capital abroad. In reality, more people are trying to go abroad, and seeking expedient ways to wangle admission to foreign schools here. There are a total of 47 international schools in Korea, and only people who have lived abroad for five or more years, or those who hold foreign citizenship or permanent residency are eligible. The Lee Myung-bak Administration is relaxing the entrance requirement from five to three years of living abroad.
The government’s decision to ease requirements is making the life of the parents who wish to send their kids to international schools a whole lot easier.
Many parents who have sent their children abroad for a year are thinking of extending this to three years. Lee (38), the mother of a fourth grader, is one of them. “My son is studying in Canada for a year, and I originally planned to bring him back after he finishes his second year because he says the life there is difficult,” she says. “But after hearing of the government’s plan, I told him to hang in there for one more year since he can then go to an international school in Korea.” However, obtaining foreign permanent residency is not everything you need. An official with an international school in Seoul said a stricter standard will be imposed on English proficiency of students with Ecuadorian permanent residency.
Background - Koreans Wander Globe in Search of Education:
The number of Korean middle and high school students studying overseas is setting new record highs every year, and now it appears a growing number of elementary students are also heading abroad.The number of elementary students heading overseas increased by 69.5 percent from 8,184 in 2005 to 13,814 in 2006. For middle school students, the figure went up by 38.6 percent from 6,670 to 9,246. For high school students, the number rose by 15.5 percent from 5,582 to 6,451.
Meanwhile, the number of Korean students studying in foreign universities or higher education institutes has topped 200,000 for the first time. Last year 217,959 Koreans went abroad to study at overseas universities, graduate schools or language institutes for adults, up from 190,364 in 2006.
The educational exodus from Korea has created not just success stories. The number of students who give up on their studies overseas and return to Korea is increasing, from 8,019 in 2001 to 13,586 in 2005. Some soon pack their bags again because they can no longer adapt to their home country either.
Source: Chosun
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