The Impact of the Korean Education System on High School Students Perception of the Learning Experience - Research Proposal Example

The paper "The Impact of the Korean Education System on High School Students’ Perception of the Learning Experience" is a good example of an education research proposal.

• Emphasis on high school students at the critical stage of 15-18 years
• The learning experience at any school level is significant in molding character and achieving the national and personal goals of education.

Chapter 1

Introduction

1. Personal interest/motivation for research

The research topic motivates due to the following;        

• My interaction with other international students reveals that the Korean education system does not promote social interaction. This brings up the question of how the system has impacted the perception of education and learning in society  
• To trace changes in  the role of education in Korean society
• I plan to work as a consultant in my career as a syllabus/curriculum development consultant.
• Having passed through the Korean education I was not satisfied and would like to understand the failures of the system and contribute towards its improvement.
• My first-hand experience with the UK education system as a student has further strengthened my resolve to improve the Korean education system
• Knowledge about ideal education systems
• High-level public criticism leveled against the Korean education system 

1. Korean education system

• There are two types of schools, private and public
• A central administration body oversees education matters from kindergarten to the final year of high school
• Mathematics, English, science and Korean studies receive highest priority
• The education system is structured as follows; preschool (kindergarten), elementary (grade 1-6), middle school (grade 7-9, high school (grade 10-12), post-secondary/tertiary (college and university)
• High school students average 15-18 yrs
  Grading is reset as students progress in their education
• High schools are categorized according to three specialties high schools, private and public
• Specialties high schools hold highly competitive entrance examinations
• Some private and public high schools also have entrance examinations
• High school education is not mandatory
• 30% of high school students are in vocational education
• Highest high school education completion rates -97% in 2005
• Transfer of education is usually one way
• Political tensions with the North interfere with education e.g pay hike issue
• 81% of middle and high schools forbid relationships among students
• Korea has the unhappiest high school students among OECD countries
• Low motivation levels among teachers
• High technology reliance ie every high school is connected to high-speed internet

• Social dimensions

• Promoting literacy and high education standards is a government policy
• The school system provides an intellect, knowledgeable and competitive workforce.
• Education has been used as a political tool
• Education is viewed as a key determinant of the country’s economic progress
• Education is used
• Education is highly competitive and fierce
• Stratification of high schools by performance affects confidence among students
• Education is a pathway to a better life
• Schools are the second most significant unit of society
• Strong emphasis on the continuation of social order in society through class subjects
• The school system displays the manifestation of unequal wealth distribution in the society through public and private schools
• Gender disparities in school enrollment and performance