International Bulletin - April 2000

Republic of Korea Reports

PPSEAWA was one of 1000 NGO organizations represented at the conference in Seoul, Korea October 10 - 18, 1999. Shirley Munyan and Begum Tajwar Shaukat, of the All-Pakistan Women's Association, were two of the PPSEAWA members who attended this conference, "The Role of the NGOs in the 21st Century; Inspire, Empower, Act!."

Thanpuying Sumalee and the Prime Minister of Thailand at the closing dinner of the Asia Pacific Regional NGO Symposium, "Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the Twenty-first Century," August 31 - September 4, 1999.

Clarissa Starey and Shirley Munyan holding the poster developed for and distributed at the Seoul workshop.

There was International Conference of NGOs in Korea held from October 10 to October 15. Major topics were "Present Situation of Good Quality Education and Care for Young Children and the Problems requiring Attention and "The Role of NGOs." This was very important Conference organized by NGOs which showed deep impression on the roles of NGOs. Participants were from many countries.

Korea government made significant decision to enhance and promote the involvement of women in the government; it was enacted that minimum 30% of National Congress governmental committee and political officials in the government should be women. Therefore it is thought that this law was intended to widen the opportunities of women's involvement. In the meantime it will be considered to establish Department of Women which will work for the benefits of women.

PPSEAWA Korea's delegation to the Cooks will consist of 10 to 15 persons.

The Role of NGOs

In the previous chapter, the changing trend of Korean's youth policy was introduced. It showed some improvements from the policy based on protection, supervision, mentorship, rehabilitation of youth to the policy which allows youth to participate with the subjecthood in politics while pursuing their unique happiness, maintaining their health, and developing themselves. Now youth can't be expected to stand by idly as mere spectators of the actions and decisions that older generations are mating. Youth have their distinct role in the aggregative process which gives rise to change in our world.

To make sure the new youth policy has a substantial influence upon youth, most NGO have to creative important roles for solving youth problems, and harnessing youth energy for socially useful purposes. NGOs have to support the various kind of youth movements, such as environmental or human rights movements performing by youth themselves.

To begin with, voluntary organizations and youth bodies can devise and conduct a variety of service programs for the benefit of community. These services can take the form of social service leagues in schools, scouting associations, sports and recreational programmes, etc. Since, there are many ethical concerns when dealing with youth, the youth themselves can serve as a pressure group in the community to note acts of social injustices and other malpractices. Further, youth can help in mobilising community resources, in terms of cash and services and by giving in return their labour, knowledge and skills. This can supplement governmental resources available for development and welfare of the community.

It is also important that youth participate of youth in youth-related policy decision making processes: The progressive induction of youth has to be achieved in the formation of national policies related to health, education, distribution of resources, etc. Youth should be involved in local developmental projects and welfare schemes, since they would form the biggest future beneficiaries.

We are sure that today's youth will benefit more from such divergent participation by sharpening their sense of responsibility and strengthening their leadership skills to advance and increase creativity to solve problems for the coming 21st century.

In addition to the efforts of letting students participate in the social activities, youth organizations are expected to play important roles in policy-mating on youth problems and the development of socio-psycho-cultural programmes, which deal with minority or ignored youth who are in need, such as suburban youths or at-risk youth. The following efforts can be provided by youth NGOs.

To work for the prevention of crime, drug and alcohol addiction, juvenile delinquency, unjust discrimination, etc.
To make effort in relief activities aimed at alleviating the misery and distress of youth victims of violence, natural calamities and human - induced accidents.
To support governmental actions designed to make equal opportunities for education, culture and sports or leisure, and entertainment to minority or the ignored youth.
To cooperate in aggregative activities such as pubic campaigns, monitoring and social movements, which are designed to protect youth from harmful social environments such as harmful media, adult entertainment businesses, dangerous' drugs, etc.
To encourage youth to contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the environment by being conscientious in the utilization of resources.
To continuously monitor and evaluate the processing of governmental youth policies and to give the government proper recommendation.

In order for the above tasks to succeed, competition among NGOs is a waste, cooperation among youth organization is essential. They should establish a close connection and create cooperative systems among them.

Financial assistance from businesses and government is necessary and indispensable to NGO activities and projects for youth.

Present Situation of Good Quality Education and Care for Young Children and the Problems Requiring Attention

The reason for offering good quality education:

1. Quality care and education are necessary for young children in order to help them to grow healthy physically and psychologically.

2. Because young children's emotional and intellectual experiences are imprinted in the brain during the early years. Dawson found that young children who have had negative experiences while they were taken care of by their neurotic mothers have 'sad brain' (Shapiro. 1997).

Definition of good quality education:
Education and care which gives children initiative, freedom to choose, plenty of play opportunity and materials, and appropriate verbal interaction; an education and care which allows children to be active learners can be called good quality. For this a teacher should have flexibility in establishing educational goals, appropriate curriculum contents, an open classroom with interest corners, freedom to choose and an appropriate process of evaluation.

The present situation:
Early childhood education and care in Korea comes under two organizational systems. Kindergartens come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and day care centers are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Besides these regulated organizations there are private institutes which are not regulated by law, such as Hakwon (private institutes of which main aims are academic achievement through hard training), various programs for the gifted young children, which are not supervised by any governmental organization so that quality control can not be achieved, are common.

The term 'kindergarten' is applied to a three year period of early childhood education, for 3-, 4- and 5-year olds. Kindergartens in Korea have been through dramatic changes especially since 1980, when the enrollment rate for five-year-olds barely reached 7.3%. At present, the enrollment rate for five-year-olds in kindergartens is 42.8% The enrollment rate for three- and four-year olds is still low at 16.2%.

Currently, there exist four types of day care centers in Korea: public, private, employer supported and family care homes. Family care homes are called 'play Room'. Private centers, including 'play room' serve a relatively large number of children. There are not enough public child care centers in Korea.

Problems requiring attention:
1. The unification of kindergartens and day care centers. Early childhood education, and care in Korea comes under two organizational stems. Kindergartens and day care centers seem to compete against each other for the sane age group. Early childhood educators believe this is waste of time, energy, money, teacher and materials. They also criticize the separation of regulation and codes of practices between kindergartens and day care centers.

2. Problems of offering equal opportunity for young children. Even though the enrollment rate has dramatically increased since 1980, it is still very low. In particular, the rate for 3 and 4-year-olds remain at only 16.2%. The enrollment rate for 3- and 4-year-olds should be increased.

3. Problems of poorly qualified teachers. There is an urgent need or changes in the certification system for early childhood teachers and directors.

4. Problems is changing parents' attitudes. Many Korean children are under a great deal of emotional pressure from their parents. The parents' relentless desire to get ahead through the education of their young children should be changed.

Last Modified: November 29, 2002