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| Educational polarization and a decline in the scholastic ability of students has deepened as schools have shifted to online classes amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, according to the recent analysis conducted by a civic group. gettyimagesbank |
By Jun Ji-hye
The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has deepened educational polarization that has resulted in a decline in the scholastic ability of students due to the significant decrease of in-person classes, according to a recent analysis.
A civic group, dedicated to the campaign against private academy-based education, analyzed the academic achievement levels at 560 middle schools and 413 high schools across the country, with the results showing that the number of students in the middle level achievement group has shrunk in both middle and high schools
The analysis was the first of its kind since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January 2020, which prompted schools nationwide to shift to online classes for many months.
The academic achievement level was divided into five grades in the analysis from A, given to a score of 90 or above, to E, given to a score of below 60.
The mid-level group ranging from grades B to D, showed a year-on-year decrease in both middle and high schools regardless of region.
In middle schools, students in the mid-level group, which accounted for 49.3 percent in the first semester of 2019, fell to 43.5 percent in the first semester of 2020; while high schools saw a 4.4 percentage points decrease to 50.4 percent.
Middle schools, however, have seen an increase in students in the high-level group receiving an A, from 28.5 percent to 30.8 percent, while high schools saw a decrease from 18.5 percent to 17.2 percent.
Students in the low level group increased in both middle and high schools ― from 22.2 percent to 25.7 percent in the former, and from 26.7 percent to 32.4 percent in the latter.
The results show that educational polarization has deepened at middle schools amid the pandemic, while the weakening of scholastic abilities has become more serious at high schools, the civic group said.
"The acute decrease of in-person classes caused by the COVID-19 outbreak has increased losses in learning opportunities," an official from the group said. "In particular, a decline in the scholastic ability of students in high schools has worsened."
The group claimed that the increase in students in the high level group in some schools may have been affected by private academy-based education, noting that this would continue to deepen educational polarization.
"The government should fully understand the current situation facing students and come up with more effective short- and long-term measures," the official said.
