The superintendent of education, (이석문) Lee Seok-moon, once again expressed his determination to introduce the International Baccalaureate curriculum to local public schools.

Some say that the IB program cannot prepare local students properly for the College Scholastic Ability Test, which is the national college entrance exam in Korea.

The superintendent countered that universities can assess and accept students based on academic reports given by schools that adopt the IB curriculum.

Mike Balfour reports.

[slug] Briefing room of Provincial Office of Education

On April 17th, the Superintendent of Education (이석문) Lee Seok-moon, officially expressed his determination to introduce the International Baccalaureate curriculum at local public schools. This follows the decision to translate the english based curriculum into Korean.

[slug] Superintendent: IB gains recognition and respect from world’s universities

He stressed that IB could innovate the learning process at public schools and restore trust in academic reports.

School records are significant and now more critical for acceptance into university.

[slug] Superintendent: Public schools can enjoy quality curriculum by adopting IB

He added that a limited number of students benefit from the curriculum, mainly students at international schools.

Recording
Lee Seok-moon / Superintendent of Education
Introducing an externally recognized curriculum to the local public schools will let us win back the trust that we lost in our current education system.
[녹취 이석문 / 제주도교육감]
"우리가 절대 평가했을 때 신뢰받고 있나? (신뢰받으려면) 뭔가 모형이 들어와야 되는데 스스로 만들었다고해서 인정받기 쉽지 않은 구조입니다."

But questions on the IB curriculum have been raised.

[slug] Lee: Students can apply for colleges based on academic reports

Some say that IB is disadvantageous to students to prepare for the national college entrance exam, as subjects in the IB curriculum are different from ones required for the test.

He disputes the claim by saying that universities can assess and accept students based on academic reports given by schools that adopt the IB curriculum.

He adds that the IB curriculum encourages creative thought, instead of just providing students with knowledge for standardized tests.

Recording
Lee Seok-moon / Superintendent of Education
Students will choose to study IB understanding that it is a totally different system from preparing for CSAT. This is why we cannot introduce IB at schools in large unit districts like dong.
[녹취 이석문 / 제주도교육감]
"이렇게 수능 준비 안하고 이 곳에 가서 대학 갈 수 있으면 이런 학교에 아이를 보내겠다고 하면 동의한 학생들이 오겠죠. 그래서 동지역에 (도입) 못하는 겁니다."

[slug] Critics: IB will increase private tutoring

Critics say the international curriculum will boost private education as students have to be assessed in English for two subjects.

The island’s education chief stressed that the English assessment will be required only for students hoping to study abroad and sending students to foreign colleges is not a goal of the introduction of the curriculum.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Jwa Sang-eun

He reaffirmed that his office will introduce the IB curriculum at high schools in rural areas on a trial basis before this year’s winter vacation starts and cultivate official examiners for the curriculum as planned.

Mike Balfour, KCTV