School Ladder System

The school ladder system is an overall inter-school structure. Korea has a single-track 6-3-3-4 system which maintains a single line of school levels in order to ensure that every citizen can receive elementary and secondary education based upon the ability of each student without discrimination. The single-track system requires six years in primary school, three years in middle school, and three years in high school. Higher educational institutions include college, university, graduate schools, in addition to four-year colleges and universities, and two- or three-year junior colleges.


Primary School Education

Primary education aims to provide the general rudimentary education necessary in life. The six-year-long primary education, plus three years of middle school education, are compulsory in Korea. When the nation was liberated from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, there were 2,807 primary schools with a total enrollment of 157 million pupils. As of 2005, however, the nation had 5,647 primary schools with a total enrollment of more than 402

million pupils.
To expand foreign language education, English has been taught as a part of the regular curriculum starting in 1997, one to two hours per week from third grade. Teachers in charge of classes are to teach English, in principle, but an exchange-class program or team teaching system may be adopted, depending on school conditions. Native speakers, invited from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have been assigned to primary, middle, and high schools. A total of 1,198 native English teachers were hired in 2005 alone.


Secondary Education : Middle Schools

The purpose of middle schools is to conduct standard secondary education on the basis of primary education. The entrance examinations for middle schools were abolished in 1969. As a result, primary school graduates now enter middle schools without a competitive examination.ll who wish to enter middle schools are assigned to the school nearest to their respective residences. Meanwhile, native English teachers have been alloted to middle schools since

1995 in order to fortify English education, and their number is on a gradual increase.


Secondary Education : High Schools

High School aims at developing students’ capability to chart their future befitting their aptitude and talent, and to enhance their ability as global citizens. Graduates of middle schools or the equivalent may enter high schools. The period of study is three years and students bear the expenses.

General High Schools

General high schools provide regular high school education. The number of general high school students has decreased every year. The phenomenon is expected to continue for the time being.


Vocational High Schools

Vocational high schools are vocational education institutes of secondary level. They offer both general secondary education and specialized courses. Recently, the number of applicants for vocational high schools has decreased, partly due to increased opportunities for advancing to colleges and universities. Vocational high school students also tend to prefer going to college over employment.


Science High Schools

Science high schools aim at discovering students gifted in science early on, and maximizing their potentials in preparation for the era of state-of-the-art industrialization. Those who have attended science high schools at least for two years may advance to bachelor’s degree courses at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and other applicable universities, depending on their abilities.


Other Specialized High Schools

Other special high schools include foreign language, art, and physical education high schools. Students with talent in any of these areas may apply for specialized high schools and be admitted through a selection process.


Semester

All schools in Korea begin in March. Summer vacation is from July to August, and the second semester starts in September. Winter vacation is from December to February.

• Beginning of a school year: March

• First Semester: March to August