There is a common sentiment in South Korea that “public education has collapsed.”
I will not ask who caused it. That question can easily lead us into another political debate that has little to do with the essence of education.
Instead, I want to ask a simpler question:
Should increasing class time really be the solution?
A report by the National Assembly Futures Institute has pointed out that the average instructional time for younger students in Korea is below the OECD average and has proposed expanding class hours, partly to support families in need of childcare.
But are these educational reasons?
If the purpose is education, shouldn’t we first ask what children actually need?
Are more hours at school necessarily better education?
It feels like deciding the date of a birthday party while leaving the birthday child out of the discussion.
Education policy should begin with the child—not with statistics, childcare needs, or the convenience of adults.
What does a child need to learn, grow, and become a better member of the community?
Perhaps that is the question we should ask first.