Crackdown on private education overlooks real issue

Radio Free Asia 14 February 2014

Private education began booming in North Korea some 10 years ago and has led the country’s elite, foreign currency earners and even local market merchants to pay to educate their children. Music, computers and foreign languages such as English have been the most popular courses, but others are offered as well, comments Andrei Lankov for Radio Free Asia.

Over this period, private tutors have earned good money helping their students earn good grades, but it is unclear whether such private education can continue. The North Korean authorities are reportedly conducting heavy crackdowns against providers and receivers of private education.

In a way, I find myself supporting this move by the authorities. Private education itself is not a good thing. Private education simply creates a society where people can buy intelligence and diligence through money, and use their money to achieve success. I personally believe that the success of students should depend purely on their own abilities and efforts.
Full report on the Radio Free Asia site

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