Blog 9: North Korea’s New Education System Likely to Face Short-Term Difficulties

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Come North Korea’s new school season in April 2013, the Supreme People’s Assembly approved the education bill to expand the system from eleven years to twelve.  With the bill passed, it is estimated to divide the six-year secondary course into two, three-year curriculums.  This decision has come from the idea that the nation’s students need to be educated more in the science-technology field, even with contrasting views that North Korea is not ready for the rapid change.  One critic argues, “One of the pressing issues for successfully implementing the 12-year compulsory education system is teacher training.”  In addition, analysts see that this reform comes from new political leaders and focus on education reform, despite the conditions for training and essential tools needed for the new system.

With all of that said, I believe that this reform is a great idea, because the world is becoming so dependent on technology.  Interestingly enough, I believe that the reform comes from Darwinism, as it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one that is the most adaptable to change.  North Korea’s commitment to adapting to education on technology is a great strategy, although I feel that the assembly is too excited about it and not taking one step at a time.  In order to get greater results in this new system, there needs to be more time for the teachers to adapt themselves in the field before passing it on. 

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2013/03/06/68/0401000000AEN20130306003600315F.HTML