Some pushing for more elementary school instruction of Chinese characters

Posted on : 2015-08-13 17:18 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
S. Korean students have some of the highest reading literacy in the OECD, contrary to other claims

“The idea that reading literacy is low because students only learn to read and understand Hangul is a lie concocted by proponents of increased education in Chinese characters. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows South Korean 15-year-olds ranking first or second in the world for literacy. The Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) ranked South Korea third out of 22 member countries for reading ability in the 16-24 age group.”

These remarks were delivered by Hangeul Culture Union chairman Lee Geon-beom during a discussion on the afternoon of Aug. 12. Titled “Do We Need Chinese Characters in Elementary Textbooks and Age-Appropriate Chinese Character Education in Elementary Schools?” the event was held at the National Assembly Members’ Building in Seoul’s Yeouido neighborhood.

Advocates of increased education in Chinese characters, called Hanja in Korean, argue that the use of Korea’s Hangul script has resulted in low rates of basic illiteracy, but that many students are “functionally illiterate” due to a failure to fully understand what they are reading. This position served as the basis for a 2015 decision by the Education Ministry to add Chinese character readings for words in Hangeul for their amended curriculum. Many words in Korean have Chinese origins, and the Hangul script was invented by King Sejong in the fifteenth century to effect higher literacy rates in Korea.

“The PIAAC showed South Korea ranking twentieth out of 22 member countries for reading ability in people aged 55-65,” Lee noted. “The segment with the low scores isn’t the Hangul-only generation, it’s the Hanja one.”

Hangul advocacy groups and educators believe the move to abandon Hangul-only education is the result of lobbying by Hanja proponents and private education businesses.

“The argument for requiring Hanja education at the elementary level began in 2002 with a proposal by the National Association for Hanja Education,” a representative from the Research Association for the Elementary School Curriculum said at the discussion.

“That group is also one of the co-sponsors of the current Hanja Grade Level Test,” the representative added.

The event was organized by National Assembly lawmakers, who also expressed concern about growing private education in Chinese characters.

“According to figures from the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, thirty-one of the 83 Hanja qualification tests have been instituted since the Education Ministry first decided to implement Hanja education for elementary schoolers last year,” said New Politics Alliance for Democracy lawmaker Do Jong-hwan.

“There’s also been an increase in related private academies,” Do noted.

Administration policies to promote Hanja education are already translating into a heavier burden on elementary school students. Since 2008, the government has had state certifications entered into student records, including Hanja qualification test results. As a result, some 370,000 elementary school students took tests in 2009 alone - over 10% of the 3.67 million students at the time.

The National Campaign Against the Use of Hanja in Elementary Textbooks held a press conference in front of the National Assembly to deliver a statement on behalf of 1,000 teachers who oppose the inclusion of Chinese characters at the elementary level.

“The inclusion of Hanja in elementary textbooks stands to impede the basic language learning and cognitive development of young people, and cannot be accepted,” the teachers said.

 

By Jeon Jung-yoon, staff reporter

 

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

 

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