hankyoreh

President-elect Lee Myung-bak said, “Among non-English-speaking countries, those using English are richer than other nations,” adding that the presidential transition team has done the right thing in its efforts to strengthen English-language education in the public schools. Lee’s remarks seem to have been made in support of the transition team, after its measures to expand English-language education stirred up a violent controversy among educators and parents.

At a meeting with the transition team on Thursday, Lee said, “There are mixed opinions surrounding English-language education, but changes always come with opposing views,” urging the transition team to try and persuade those who object to the plan to participate in the education initiatives. Lee emphasized the need to strengthen English-language education, saying that English is a highly necessary tool for living in today’s globalized world and people will be eligible for different jobs and receive different treatment based on their ability to use English.

He expressed his complaints about critics of the plan, saying that there are many people driving in reverse these days. “We can’t do anything about those who object for the sake of objection, but we should persuade those who are opposed to the plan due to a lack of understanding,” added Lee. He also said that this matter should not become politicized, and emphasized the need for cooperation for the future of the nation.

Lee said that it would be better to divide students according to their language level and give current English teachers an opportunity to join the program. “Once the transition team makes the rules, the incoming government can work out the details to see that they are executed,” Lee continued.

The transition team plans to implement English-immersion education in the public schools, under which classes in all subjects were to have been taught in English by the year 2010, met with strong opposition from parents, teachers and education experts, and was enough to make the transition team reverse its decision. The team’s new plan will see the hiring of 23,000 new teachers able to conduct English as a second language classes in English from 2010 to 2013 and a teacher-training program for 3,000 teachers per year.

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