Gifted Education in Seoul, South Korea

Getting the right educational services for gifted children is not just a concern in the United States.  As I've mentioned before, it is a world-wide concern.  Interestingly, the same kinds of road blocks to getting those services that we see in the U.S. are also seen in other countries.

In Seoul, South Korea, a new goal for gifted education was established: create at least one gifted class in 950 elementary and middle schools by 2012. Currently in South Korea, less than one percent of students are identified as gifted.  The motivation behind adding classes for gifted children is to raise that number to the level of advanced countries, which is three to five percent.

So this is a good thing, right?  Not to everyone.  The article about these new classes, Seoul Public Schools to Get Gifted Classes by 2012, quotes one parent: “Though the purpose of increasing classes for gifted children is said to expand education for the gifted, this will eventually create disparity between the academically competent and those less competent. This will further fuel demand for private education.”

But this parent need not worry.  Seoul education officials say that the new gifted classes will be after school activities, not like classes determined by ability.

I only wonder how these classes will be run and how they will provide the services gifted children in Seoul need.