There is a place called hell. The reason why it is hell is because those who endure it together become enemies and continue to fight terribly. Three years later, their foreheads are marked with a scorecard and their next destination is determined. Some people receive high-income guaranteed acting tickets, but the tickets that many others received are foreshadowed by "employment hell" in a few years. Some scared return to the hell of the first place, the so-called 'exam hell' to get a better ticket.

One day, politicians said they were heartbroken by the appearance and introduced a new system. It is a "high school credit system" that began with the first year of high school this year. He said he could graduate by choosing a subject that suits his aptitude and career path and taking the credits. The number of courses offered has also increased significantly.

However, what turned the school into hell in the first place is a fierce competition to avoid future employment hell. It is difficult if there is a student who is better than me in the subject I choose. It is advantageous if there are more children who are worse than me. Students flock to subjects that can win the competition. The choice is an illusion.

The politicians were not unaware that this would happen. He demonstrated his "good faith" to ease competition in school records. I changed my grades from grade 9 to grade 5. I reduced the grade difference, so don't worry too much and choose a subject that suits your career path.

However, the road to hell is always paved with 'good faith'. Most of the students in the lower universities of Seoul are in the first grade. Students were terrified that they would not be able to go to a university in Seoul even if they received only a second grade. Competition is set to intensify.

The high school credit system causes more pain to students with serious learning deficits. In the past, graduation was possible only by filling attendance, but from now on, students cannot get credits if their achievement rate is less than 40%. I can't graduate.

The politicians also gave them a good hand. It is the so-called "Minimum Achievement Level Guarantee Guidance" (Choi Sung-bo). The teachers were asked to identify the students who were expected to be unfinished. It was told to ensure the minimum level of achievement through supplementary guidance.

However, it is difficult to suddenly raise the achievement rate of students who have accumulated deficits in mathematics and science from elementary school. That's why expediency is mobilized. Inflate the score by increasing the proportion of performance evaluations that can be tested very easily or subjectively evaluated by teachers.

The bigger problem is the stigma of being a 'top star target'. Student self-esteem crumbles. People around him are also in pain. It eventually leads to dropping out. The Ministry of Education says that the current status of dropouts in the first semester of this year will be counted only next year, but it should prevent students from being pushed out of school.

The high school credit system is particularly disadvantageous to areas with poor educational environments. In these places, the number of students is decreasing due to a decrease in population, and teachers are also insufficient. Nevertheless, as the number of subjects increased, one teacher took on several subjects. The quality of learning is poor. On the other hand, the number of teachers in special high schools is 1.5 times that of general high schools. A much wider variety of subjects are offered. Eventually, the gap between special high schools and general high schools, especially small schools in the region, widens.

The high school credit system is originally a system that is paired with absolute evaluation. Regardless of my friend's grades, the right to choose a subject can be guaranteed only when it is evaluated only by my achievement. Therefore, developed countries implement the high school credit system and absolute evaluation together.

On the other hand, in Korea, public opinion is high against the absolute evaluation of school records. This is due to concerns that special purpose high schools, which attract excellent students, could be advantageous and general high schools could be devastated. However, as long as the relative evaluation is maintained, the high school credit system cannot make use of its original purpose. In particular, this year's first-year high school students will have to face more elective courses named convergence and projects next year. The confusion will only grow. If the right to choose subjects disappears and side effects continue, why should we insist on the credit system. Left and right educational organizations also oppose it with one voice. Putting the hell of the college entrance exam and the hell of the credit system on top of it is another sin against a student.

[Kim Insoo Editorial Writer]