"Isn't This a Waste of Tax Money?" Controversy Over Semi-Transparent Dividers at the Suneung Exam Venue

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Students are studying in a classroom with installed partitions. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] In preparation for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) scheduled for the 3rd of next month, protective barriers will be installed on desks at the test sites to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). However, this plan has sparked criticism as a waste of taxpayers' money, with some arguing that strictly following preventive measures such as wearing masks is sufficient without the need for barriers.

In particular, examinees themselves have expressed dissatisfaction with the barriers, intensifying conflicts surrounding the issue. Experts have pointed out that installing barriers at CSAT test sites will not significantly aid in infection control.

The Ministry of Education finalized and announced the "CSAT Test Site Quarantine Guidelines for COVID-19 Prevention" on the 16th of last month. According to the guidelines, examinees will disinfect their hands, undergo temperature checks and symptom screening; asymptomatic individuals will enter general test rooms, while symptomatic individuals will be placed in separate rooms. Additionally, barriers will be installed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Education and various metropolitan and provincial offices of education reported that the education offices recently signed contracts through Public Procurement Service bidding for the barriers to be used during the CSAT.

The barriers will not be placed on the left and right sides of the desks but only in front of them. Each barrier consists of a top panel measuring 60 cm in width and 45 cm in height, supported by two base panels.

The bottom part of the top panel has a rectangular groove 40 cm wide, allowing part of the test paper to be extended outside the desk for the examinee to see during the exam. Double-sided tape is attached to the base panels to fix the barrier securely to the desk.

Furthermore, the barriers are made semi-transparent to prevent cheating by reflecting test papers.

The issue lies in the fact that tens of billions of won in taxpayers' money are being spent on purchasing these CSAT barriers. It is reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education spent 1.9 billion won to purchase 120,000 barriers, and it is estimated that over 8 billion won has been invested nationwide across 17 metropolitan and provincial education offices.

A petition titled "Opposition to the Installation of Desk Dividers on the College Scholastic Ability Test Day" posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 7th of last month. / Photo by Blue House National Petition Website Capture

There is also strong opposition from examinees. Some have posted petitions on the Blue House's public petition board opposing the installation of CSAT barriers, expressing dissatisfaction. They argue that the barriers represent a waste of tax money with little practical value.

One petitioner claimed that the barriers reduce desk space, which could interfere with taking the exam. In a petition titled "Opposition to Installing Barriers in Front of Desks on CSAT Day," the petitioner stated, "I urge the discontinuation of this plan due to issues such as impracticality, waste of national tax, and increased inconvenience for examinees." They added, "Installing barriers will make desk space even more cramped, causing discomfort and potentially interfering with the exam due to the unfamiliar structures."

There are also opinions that barriers are unnecessary if preventive measures such as wearing masks, temperature checks, and disinfection are properly followed.

Another petitioner, identifying herself as a mother of an examinee, said, "In the CSAT venue, examinees sit silently for eight hours with unfamiliar peers. The test environment does not require barriers. All examinees wear masks and do not speak during the exam, so why are barriers necessary?" She continued, "Military academy and police university exams were conducted safely without barriers. Please stop causing unnecessary hardship to examinees."

Despite ongoing controversy, education authorities maintain their stance on enforcing quarantine rules within test sites, including barrier installation. On the 26th of last month, at the National Assembly Education Committee comprehensive audit, Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, addressed concerns about the barriers, stating, "While lateral spacing has been secured, front-to-back spacing has not. Since examinees also need to eat lunch, the quarantine authorities requested the installation of barriers." She explained that this was an unavoidable measure due to the difficulty of maintaining front-to-back distancing among examinees.

Experts have criticized the installation of barriers at CSAT test sites as an unnecessary measure. Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, explained, "Infection prevention is sufficiently achieved by following basic rules such as wearing masks, maintaining distance between seats, and ventilating indoor spaces. Barriers are used in situations where masks cannot be worn, such as during meals. While effective in those cases, they are not necessary during the CSAT exam."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.