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Starting this October, English kindergartens in Korea will no longer be allowed to perform language level tests for small children or demand scores for tests such as the TOEFL or TOEIC.The move comes in response to critics’ contention that administering examinations to 4- and 7-year-olds to attend renowned English afterschool academies before they have even entered elementary school represents a violation of children’s rights.On Tuesday, the Ministry of Education gave a pre-announcement of an enforcement decree three months ahead of the implementation of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes and Extracurricular Lessons.An amended version of the act passed in March bans level testing by private education institutions for small children. With the enforcement decree, the ministry spelled out the specific standards, procedures and methods of level testing for the purpose of enforcing the law.The enforcement decree announced on Tuesday includes bans on performance assessments such as written, oral, interview-based and practical tests to verify a small child’s learning ability or extent of prior learning, along with problem-solving activities, task performance and presentations.It also bars facilities from requiring or asking for the results from tests or evaluations performed by external institutions or other academies, as well as scores and completion certifications.This was included in response to the tactics of some English academies that have tried to skirt punishment by having the results of external institutions’ English tests — such as TOEFL or TOEIC scores — presented at the time of admission.Exceptional instances where assessment may be requested were also stipulated. Permissible diagnostics include conversations, counseling and observation of participation in recreation and other activities for the purpose of supporting educational activities after a small child has enrolled with a private academy or learning center or begun receiving tutoring.“This means we are not outright prohibiting private academies from operating classes that are tailored to a small child’s academic level,” a ministry official explained. But the diagnostics in question will require the prior consent of a guardian, and administrators are prohibited from “grading” the results with scores, levels, ranks or pass/fail ratings.New punishments were instituted to ensure the effectiveness of the regulations.Penalties for the testing or assessment of small children for purposes of admission or class assignment amount to 1 million won (US$665) for a first violation, 2 million won for a second, and 3 million won for a third.A legal basis has also been established for the payment of rewards for reporting such acts, within the scope of the defined budget.Following the pre-announcement, the Education Ministry plans to amend and proclaim the enforcement decree to coincide with the act’s effective date of Oct. 1.By Lee Woo-yeon, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
