|
Online education is slowly moving into the mainstream in Korea. Leading the surging popularity of e-learning are high school students preparing for the annual college entrance exam. Last year, some 600,000 students took the test, and a survey shows 93 percent of them regularly logged on to the Internet to study subjects like English, algebra and Korean essay writing.
The trend is rooted in the burgeoning private education centers or crammmers that try to supplement the shortcomings of public education. Such institutes offer online classes as an alternative or an additional option.
In Korea, admission to a prestigious university is considered a key life achievement. This competitive environment has spawned star instructors with a reputation for getting students over the hurdles.
Kim Ki-hoon, who has never studied overseas, is one of them. In 2005, his income from writing books and giving lectures totaled more than US$10 million. He is fully aware of criticism crammers face of raising education costs for parents excessively but blames the shortfalls of public education. "Actually, I really wish students could get along without any more private education,¡± he says. ¡°But unless the public sector is revolutionized first, it won¡¯t be easy to get rid of private tutoring."
He refers to the frequently changing education policies, a byproduct of a near-obsession with learning geared toward entering university. So tens of thousands of students rely on him to deliver what they need. "His teachings give us confidence,¡± one said. ¡°Many success stories show that, and I feel I can better focus on my studies without having doubts."
Another millionaire teacher is Cho Dong-gi, who teaches essay writing, which is emerging as a crucial skill for college admission. His operation is more diverse and involves running his own publishing firm. In a small studio, he tapes the lectures that will be uploaded on the Internet. "When the Internet spreads to the most remote and mountainous areas of the country, every student will be able to access the best classes at all times,¡± Cho said. ¡°Because of this, there is a lot of potential for online education."
The success of such sought-after teachers has inspired many to pursue long-term careers as tutors, sometimes switching professions. To these teachers, money is the reward of constant effort to develop practical content and hone their teaching skills. In the end, they say, the true goal of education is to enable students to aim high.
Arirang News
|
