The Korean public education structure is divided into three parts: six years of
primary school, followed by three years of middle school and then three years of
high school
The primary curriculum consists of nine principal subjects: moral education,
Korean language, social studies, mathematics, science, physical education,
music, fine arts, and practical arts.
High schools are divided into academic and vocational schools
Upon completion of primary school, students advance to middle school, which
comprises grades seven through nine. The curriculum consists of 12 basic or
required subjects, electives, and extracurricular activities
school calendar has two semesters, the first extending from March through July
and the second from September through February. There are summer and winter
breaks, but 10 optional half days at the beginning and end of each break
A typical day finds high schoolers studying before school begins at about 8:00
A.M. Classes run for 50 minutes each, with a morning break and a 50-minute lunch
period. The afternoon session resumes at about 1:00 P.M., and classes continue
until about 4:00 or 4:30, followed by the cleaning of the classroom. Students
may then take a short dinner break at home, or they may eat at school
Elementary and middle school students have similar but somewhat less rigorous
days with shorter hours and more recreational activities.
Students return to the school library to study or attend private schools or
tutoring sessions until between 10:00 P.M. and midnight.
Attendance requirements call for a minimum of 220 days at all three levels
Most instruction we observed consisted of teacher lectures, with only rare
interruptions for questions. If students had questions, they might speak to the
teacher after class
discipline problems were infrequent, and great respect for teachers was evident.
Students bowed, as is the custom, when passing teachers in the halls and
appeared hesitant to enter faculty offices.
Korean teachers still have more responsibility for counseling students and
controlling their behavior than do teachers in the United States. Korean culture
grants teachers the same authority as parents and attributes them even greater
responsibility for children's moral and academic development.
The area is filled with cram schools, which
students attend to improve test scores and
recieve extra tutoring. Students often get
home around 10PM after attending both
regular and cram school each day.