Middle and High School Students' Academic Performance Worsened... Significant Decrease in High School 'Korean' Scores Above Average

2021 Academic Achievement Assessment Results
69.8% to 64.3% of 11th Graders Scored 'Average or Above' in Korean
11th Grade English Also Shows Two Consecutive Years of Decline in 'Average or Above'
Both Korean and Math 'Average or Above' Scores Decrease for 9th Graders

On the 9th, the day the June mock test for the 2023 College Scholastic Ability Test was held, third-year students at Yongsan High School in Seoul are preparing for the exam. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The academic achievement levels of middle and high school students recorded levels similar to the worst ever in 2020. In particular, the 'average proficiency' level in Korean language among high school students decreased by 5.5 percentage points.

On the 13th, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the 2021 Academic Achievement Assessment. This evaluation was conducted by sampling 22,297 students, which is 3% of the 780,203 students in 9th grade and 11th grade. The assessment levels are classified into four categories: Excellent, Average, Basic, and Below Basic.

The proportion of 'average or above' scores in Korean and Mathematics for 9th graders has decreased for three consecutive years since 2019. Korean dropped from 82.9% two years ago to 74.4%, and Mathematics decreased from 61.3% to 55.6%. Compared to the previous year, Korean decreased by 1.0 percentage point and Mathematics by 2.1 percentage points. English (64.3%) slightly increased compared to last year's 63.9%, but did not recover to the level of two years ago (72.6%).

For 11th graders, achievement levels in Korean and English also declined. The proportion of students with average or above proficiency in Korean was 64.3%, down 5.5 percentage points from two years ago (77.5%) and last year (69.8%). English (74.5%) also decreased compared to two years ago (78.8%) and last year (76.7%). Only Mathematics (63.1%) slightly increased compared to last year (60.8%) but remained lower than two years ago (65.5%).

An official from the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation explained, "Compared to before COVID-19, academic levels generally declined in 2020, and in 2021, except for high school Korean, the trends were similar to those in 2020."

The percentage of middle school students in eup and myeon (town and township) areas scoring below basic proficiency in Mathematics was 16.4%, significantly higher than the 9.6% in metropolitan areas. High school students' Mathematics achievement levels were also higher in eup and myeon areas (16.1%) than in metropolitan areas (12.5%). Students in metropolitan areas showed higher achievement levels in all middle school subjects and in high school Mathematics for average or above proficiency.

Regarding achievement levels by gender, female students generally scored higher than male students in both middle and high schools. The proportion of average or above proficiency was higher for female students than male students in Korean and English subjects at both school levels. The proportion below basic proficiency was lower for female students than male students across all subjects in middle and high schools.

Happiness in school life (psychological adaptation and satisfaction with the educational environment) had been steadily increasing since 2013 but has been declining since the COVID-19 pandemic. For middle school students, it was 57.2%, down 2.3 percentage points from the previous year, and for high school students, 60.5%, down 0.7 percentage points from the previous year.

The Institute stated, "Since the 2021 national academic achievement assessment was conducted in September last year, it is difficult to evaluate the policy support outcomes for 'educational recovery.' However, even with expanded in-person classes in 2021, academic operations at the same level as before COVID-19 were not achieved, making short-term recovery in learning and emotional aspects challenging."

The Ministry of Education will change the academic achievement assessment from a paper-based test to a computer-based test starting this September. Sixth-grade elementary students will be included in the assessment, and besides the sampled 3%, schools can participate in the assessment at the class level if they wish. Schools wishing to participate can apply for the test dates and subjects. From next year, fifth-grade elementary students will also be included in the participating grades. Starting in 2025, an AI-based learning diagnostic system will be established to precisely diagnose individual students' levels and deficiencies and provide customized educational content.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education plans to analyze the effects of educational recovery policies in the second half of this year and reflect field demands to announce a 'Mid- to Long-term Implementation Plan for Resolving Educational Deficits' in October. To actively fulfill the state's responsibility for guaranteeing basic academic skills, a 'Comprehensive Plan for Guaranteeing Basic Academic Skills' will be established and announced in September, including plans for selecting target students, assigning dedicated teachers, and providing customized learning support.

The Ministry will expand cooperative teaching schools and establish Learning Comprehensive Clinic Centers in all education support offices to focus on supporting learning, psychological, and emotional recovery using professional personnel. Considering the significant decline in high school Korean achievement, teaching and learning activities reflecting the characteristics of the Korean subject will be strengthened. To reduce learning gaps in eup and myeon areas, non-face-to-face 'university student tutoring' will also be activated.

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