As national income rose and the country began to stabilize and rise to the ranks of advanced countries, an appropriate level of education was required and it became feasible. The range of education that only some elites could enjoy has been extended to the general public. Gradually, education took the form of basic rights that everyone could have. The cost burden has been reduced by free education and free meals policies in middle and high schools, and it is set to be implemented in earnest in the hope of reducing educational deviations.
However, as if the right did not include universities, the increase in tuition was discussed, and the price eventually rose. You cannot buy a right. This is because it is human nature. However, all college students are paying tuition to purchase rights, and higher education has strengthened its marketability. I mean, it hurts that right.
In particular, the fact that the National University of Education raised tuition is more shocking than that of local private universities. Professors at state-run universities are appointed by the president through the Minister of Education at the recommendation of the president with the consent of the university personnel committee, while adjunct professors and assistant professors are appointed by the Minister of Education. This is why “publicity” is given to professors’ status, and moreover, national and public universities should not take the lead in raising it.
It is also necessary to reflect on the tuition fees before the increase. Due to the direct impact of COVID-19, students who did not enjoy high-quality classes and college life in 2020 and 2021 years and students who attended school at the time should have returned tuition fees first. The university’s tuition fee does not end only with the provision of classes by professors, but also includes various external programs and school facilities supported by the university. This is because learning is not done only in class, but also in how well the learner accepts it. Universities are educational institutions that help them all. However, even though they paid the same price, the value and economic feasibility of the money they spent were not fully guaranteed. Even though the value of the cost was never the same as before COVID-19, it will be necessary to clarify what happens to the same tuition and expenditure.
Higher tuition fees will not be the only problem for universities. As with all products, they will interact closely with the socioeconomic and increase or decrease their costs. It is true that prices rise over time, and it would not be false to say that it is the critical point of the financial difficulties of universities that raise tuition fees. However, recognizing that education is not a product and is a natural right, active financial support from the state will be needed. The decrease in the number of students enrolled in local universities and education colleges will also play a role. This is a problem that arises as the ranking of universities for employment is emphasized, and the number of people going to departments increases accordingly. This is because universities emphasize the necessity as a job more than the necessity as an academic. Accordingly, it is necessary to reduce the competitive entrance examination system starting with secondary education and expand educational support to reduce differences in education levels depending on Seoul, the metropolitan area, and each region.
What should be seen through the fact of raising tuition fees is the reality of education that has lost the effectiveness of competitive entrance exams and learning. Therefore, it is necessary to look back on whether the purpose of the current middle and high education is being fulfilled properly and whether the effect is working well.