earticle

영어

It is probably true that the quality of education in school is determined by the teacher's quality. Teacher education is especially important in this time because knowledge based economy system need highly educated and qualified persons more than any other times. United States, United Kingdom and Japan etc., have made every effort to improve the educational system in recent times.
Teachers in elementary school in Korea exclusively are almost exclusively trained in the college of elementary education strictly separated from the university in curriculum, building and facilities, etc. There is a college of education having only 28 professors who teach every subjects including not only specialized ones necessary for becoming an elementary teacher but liberal education. There have always been in shortages and over-supplies of elementary teachers since independence from Japan because of this exclusive teacher educational system.
On the other hand teachers in middle and high school teachers are educated in the university and graduate college of education. The government do not control any things in teacher education. The curriculum and the criteria of getting teacher certification etc., are very different according to the colleges. The teachers have had no opportunity to learn special knowledge and skills to be a good teacher. The students in the college of education in the university are not certain to be a teacher because there are so many students having teacher certifications. Only one student among 5 students in the college of education can be a teacher.
It is necessary to innovate the teacher education system. The college of elementary teacher education strictly separated from the university should be integrated with the university and become a college of education in the university. In the future the government needs to consider to train the teachers in the graduate college. This kind of educational system will contribute to having various teacher education systems in Korea. And above all it is necessary to have the system controlling teacher certification like any other countries such as United States and United Kingdom.