[Opinion] Character Education Through Volunteering: Urgent Need for System Reform

Recently, the participation rate of teenagers in volunteer activities has dropped sharply. While the aftermath of COVID-19 has played a role, the bigger reason is that volunteer work has been excluded from college admissions, eliminating students' motivation to participate.

Former President of Gyeongsang National University Kwon Sungki.

The number of youth volunteer programs, which stood at around 40 in 2019, has dwindled to just about 12 this year, and the number of participating students has plummeted from 390,000 to around 30,000. This is a side effect caused by changes in the Ministry of Education's policies.

The problem originated from the Ministry's response to the so-called 'parental privilege' controversy in 2017. Rather than improving the system, excluding volunteer work from college admissions altogether is no different from proposing to eliminate cars because of car accidents. Although the situation could have been improved through proper management and oversight, the Ministry of Education chose the easier route of abolishment. As a result, students have lost opportunities for character education, and support for the socially disadvantaged has weakened at the same time.

However, volunteering is not simply a tool for scoring points. Through helping others, students develop confidence and a sense of social solidarity, as well as learn responsibility and leadership. Volunteer activities involving parents, teachers, and students together broaden intergenerational understanding and empathy, providing a living education that textbooks cannot offer. Excluding volunteer work is essentially diminishing the true purpose of education.

Therefore, what is needed now is the revival and improvement of the system. The Ministry of Education should establish a fair operational framework and build a public volunteer platform connected to the local community. Schools and education offices must directly manage these programs to prevent privilege-based loopholes and ensure that all students have equal opportunities. In college admissions, instead of awarding points, the process of volunteering should be reflected in student growth records to encourage genuine participation.

Education is not complete with grades alone. True education is achieved by nurturing not only knowledge but also a warm heart and a sense of responsibility. Volunteering is the most educational activity that opens this path, and the Ministry of Education must restore its value to the educational field.

Former President of Gyeongsang National University Kwon Sungki

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