By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter


Schools in free economic zones and an international city will be required to give regular classes in English on a trial basis, starting 2008.

The government plans to introduce an English immersion program in elementary, middle and high schools in the free economic zones of Inchon, Pusan, Chinhae and Kwangyang and the free international city of Cheju in 2008.

An official at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development said the program is designed to improve students’ English ability.

The program is part of long-term measures to improve the nation’s human resources between 2006-2010.

Students in the regions will take regular school subjects in English in the English immersion program.

The ministry will oblige students to take a second foreign language beside English in accordance with regional needs.

Students living in Pusan adjacent to Japan, for example, are likely to be required to take Japanese, while students living in Inchon near China will likely learn Chinese.

The ministry will also recruit English speakers as assistant teachers in all middle schools nationwide by 2010 in an effort to enhance English conversation and English teaching skills.

Also, the ministry will reform the current school year system so that schools begin the academic year in September rather than in March by 2010 to coordinate with foreign educational institutions.

The policy is designed to help schools prepare students for higher education and the job market.

Currently, schools are operated under the 6-3-3-4 system which means six years for elementary school, three each for middle and high school and four years for university.

Last November, the Korea Educational Development Institute recommended that the government adopt a 5-3-4-4 school system by reducing elementary school years to five from the current six and extending high school by a year to four years.

``The school year reform was adopted as the current school year system reduces the nation’s competitiveness by delaying students by one year compared to students in other countries,’’ a ministry official said.

The ministry is also planning to expand the current 30 percent support for five-year-old children in preschools and kindergartens to full supports by 2010.

In 2010, five-year-old children at public kindergartens and private kindergartens will receive free-of-charge education with full support from the government.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr