Ministry of Education to Develop Improvement Plan for 'High School Credit System' by Year-End

High School Credit System Inspection TF First Meeting on the 29th
Review of Progress and Discussion of Improvement Plans

Galmae High School reference photo related to the implementation of the High School Credit System / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education has decided to prepare improvement measures for the high school credit system, which is set to be fully implemented in 2025, by the end of the year.

On the 29th, the Ministry of Education formed a task force (TF) to review the high school credit system, consisting of 12 field teachers and experts, and held its first meeting at the Koreana Hotel in Seoul, chaired by Deputy Minister Jang Sang-yoon.

Last year, the Ministry announced a phased implementation plan for the high school credit system and has been promoting detailed tasks according to the schedule. The high school credit system allows students to complete various subjects according to their career paths and graduate once they meet the required cumulative credits. It will be applied to all high schools in 2025, introduced to Meister high schools since 2020, specialized high schools this year, and gradually applied to general high schools from this year through 2024.

Following the inauguration of the new government and ahead of the system’s implementation, concerns were raised about teachers’ workload and the operational conditions of the credit system. As a result, it was decided to review and supplement the high school credit system as a national agenda. According to a survey conducted by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, 52% responded that "the implementation of the high school credit system should be withdrawn." In a survey by the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations, 85% opposed the full introduction of the high school credit system.

The Ministry of Education will operate the high school credit system review TF to examine necessary improvements and explore and discuss supplementary measures. Regarding the non-completion system scheduled for introduction in 2025, opinions from academia and the education field will be gathered to seek an applicable method acceptable on the ground. The non-completion system requires attendance (at least two-thirds of classes attended) and academic achievement (at least 40%) to recognize credit acquisition.

Going forward, the Ministry will check the preparation status and difficulties of the credit system at schools, mainly through metropolitan and provincial offices of education. Detailed issues will also be discussed through the metropolitan and provincial councils. Communication with the field will be strengthened through regional forums involving students, parents, and field teachers, as well as consultations with teacher organizations.

At the first meeting, the current status of the high school credit system and the results of opinion gathering will be shared. Future directions for review and supplementation will also be discussed, including the operation of elective curricula, the non-completion system, operational conditions of the high school credit system, and support measures for schools.

Deputy Minister Jang Sang-yoon said, "Since the introduction of the credit system is progressing sequentially, we will do our best to prepare the operational foundation to minimize difficulties in the field and to stably introduce student-tailored education through review and supplementation of the credit system."

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