[Q&A] What About Course Selection Rights in the High School Credit System?…If You Get an I, 'Supplementary Completion'

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From 2025, the high school credit system will be implemented in all high schools. The high school credit system refers to a system where students complete various subjects according to their career paths and are recognized for graduation once their accumulated credits reach the required standard. With the implementation of the high school credit system, graduation will only be possible when the accumulated credits meet the criteria. The Ministry of Education announced the "Comprehensive Promotion Plan for the High School Credit System" on the 17th, which includes these details.

The high school credit system operates based on credits. Students will be able to choose and take subjects other than the common subjects. Previously, graduation was possible by attending two-thirds of the school days, but with the high school credit system, students must meet both the subject attendance rate (two-thirds of class sessions) and academic achievement rate (40% or higher). Students must complete 192 credits over three years, with one credit equivalent to 16 class sessions, similar to universities (15 sessions). The method of calculating and recording internal grades will also change. Achievement levels will be indicated from A to E, and if the achievement rate is below 40%, the student will receive an I (Incomplete) grade. Frequently asked questions related to the high school credit system are summarized in a Q&A format.

▲ How much class selection freedom will students have when the high school credit system is introduced?

=In the first year, students will mainly take common subjects while establishing an academic plan linked to their desired career path, and from the second year, they will actively take elective subjects. Schools will offer a variety of elective subjects, and if it is difficult for a school to offer certain subjects, students can take classes through online and offline joint education programs among multiple schools or through out-of-school education.

▲ What are the common subjects in the high school credit system?

=Common subjects are those completed before taking elective subjects and are designed to cultivate basic literacy and understanding of fundamental academic content at the high school level. Common subjects should be determined comprehensively considering core competencies needed for the future society and the overall subject structure of high schools. The specific content and volume of these subjects will be decided through in-depth research and social discussions during the 2022 national curriculum revision process.

▲ If a student fails to meet the graduation credit requirements, will they be unable to graduate even after three years?

=If there are subjects not completed and the required credits (192 credits) are not met, there may be cases where graduation is not possible. The non-completion system aims to strengthen the responsibility of school education by institutionalizing a procedure for providing additional guidance to students who do not reach the minimum achievement level (40%).

Prevention is done through diagnostic assessments and learning management, and if non-completion occurs, credit acquisition is supported through separate assignments or supplementary instruction during after-school or vacation periods.

▲ Is there a plan to introduce a 're-taking' system for non-completed subjects?

=Similar to universities, the ‘re-taking’ system, where students retake non-completed subjects from the beginning in the next semester or academic year, is planned to be introduced in the long term considering the operation status of the non-completion system. When non-completion occurs, credit acquisition is supported through ‘supplementary completion,’ which involves reduced instruction of the relevant course. However, a grade cap (assigning achievement level E) will be set for grades received after supplementary completion to prevent distortion of the system’s purpose.

▲ Is early graduation possible if credits are earned quickly?

=The current early graduation system, which is operated exceptionally for students planning to enter higher education, will be maintained even after the introduction of the high school credit system. However, considering the academic workload over three years of high school, a minimum credit load of 28 credits per semester will be stipulated to ensure balanced credit acquisition.

▲ Will grade levels still be maintained under the credit system?

=The current system, where promotion and graduation occur on a grade-level basis, will be maintained after the introduction of the high school credit system. However, ‘no-grade-level classes’ where students from multiple grades attend the same class, as permitted under current laws, will be possible.

▲ Why is the achievement evaluation system being introduced?

=The high school credit system allows students to earn credits only when they meet the subject completion criteria (attendance of two-thirds or more of class sessions and achievement rate of 40% or higher). The achievement evaluation system, which measures students’ achievement levels, must be introduced alongside it. The current ranking system causes disadvantages or advantages in internal grades depending on the number of students enrolled, leading to avoidance of subjects with fewer students. To establish the high school credit system, where students select subjects according to their career and aptitude, an improvement in the evaluation system is necessary.

▲ Are common subjects, which maintain ranking grades, evaluated only by relative evaluation?

=Common subjects are also evaluated for academic achievement levels based on completion criteria. However, ranking grades are calculated using raw scores of the subjects and assigned grades, which is a different method from achievement evaluation. The current ranking system assigns grades based on fixed proportions according to rank order, so students with the same achievement level may receive different ranking grades. For example, if 11% of all students receive an A grade, the top 4% will receive ranking grade 1, and those ranked 5-11% will receive grade 2.

▲ How will university admission policies compatible with the high school credit system be concretized?

=University admission screening policies will be reviewed to align with the future education transition direction that respects career paths and aptitudes and fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. By February 2024, policy research and field opinion gathering will be conducted, and improvement measures for university entrance exam elements such as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), along with fair admission screening design plans, will be sequentially reviewed.

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