{"id":2204522,"date":"2024-04-02T16:58:27","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T07:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204522"},"modified":"2024-04-03T17:45:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T08:45:28","slug":"south-koreas-unprepared-classrooms-tested-by-rising-multiculturalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/04\/south-koreas-unprepared-classrooms-tested-by-rising-multiculturalism\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s unprepared classrooms tested by rising multiculturalism"},"content":{"rendered":"
The rapid rise in the number of students from multicultural families in South Korea is pushing the country\u2019s education system and policies to their limits, revealing an urgent need for more effective integration strategies in classrooms.<\/span><\/p>\n Now numbering <\/span>over 180,000<\/span><\/a> and accounting for 3.5% of all students \u2014 a <\/span>threefold increase<\/span><\/a> since 2011 \u2014 multicultural students face an education system ill-prepared to embrace diversity. Despite this growing presence, the system\u2019s policies and practices have yet to evolve to offer inclusive and equitable educational opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n The government\u2019s fragmented approach exacerbates the problem, leading to a disjointed support system for these students and their families.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cVarious government departments are implementing multicultural policies independently, without unified oversight or coordination,\u201d Jeanie Yoo, a professor of children and youth education and counseling at Pyeongtaek University, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Critics argue for a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes the integration and welfare of multicultural youth, a goal hampered by bureaucratic delays and a lack of cohesive vision.<\/span><\/p>\n Ruling People Power Party interim leader Han Dong Hoon <\/span>submitted a bill<\/span><\/a> to the National Assembly last month to create an immigration department to consolidate efforts and policies, but it has yet to gain traction in parliament. This proposal, while a step toward addressing the issue, has drawn criticism for potentially overlooking the specific needs of multicultural youth, focusing instead on broader economic benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe proposed department may not adequately address the specific needs of multicultural youth, as most policies dealing with multiculturalism focus instead on adults,\u201d Kim Su-young, director of <\/span>Global Youth Center<\/span><\/a>, a non-governmental organization, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Further, discrimination remains a significant barrier, with about 30% of multicultural families <\/span>reporting<\/span><\/a> experiences of bias and prejudice.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany Korean parents are reluctant to have their children share classrooms with students from multicultural backgrounds,\u201d Yoo added, highlighting the social challenges these students face.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, the failure to accommodate <\/span>cultural and religious dietary needs<\/span><\/a> in school meals exemplifies systemic neglect, adding <\/span>financial burdens<\/span><\/a> to already marginalized families. The failure of local governments to implement inclusive meal policies mirrors the broader issue of a failure to meet the diverse needs of South Korea’s changing population.<\/span><\/p>\n