Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Exam Week

Quoted from The Korean Times:

"The state-run exam for college entrance will take place today. More than 588,000 students will take the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) at nearly 1,000 exam venues across the nation from 8:40 a.m. to 6:05 p.m., according to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Measures will be taken nationwide to help students take the exams without hitches, including traffic control and the adjustment of business hours at offices. Workers at government offices and public firms across the nation, except Jeju Island, will be allowed to arrive at work by 10 a.m., an hour later than the usual 9 a.m. This measure is to prevent traffic jams in the early morning, so that test-takers can get to the exam venues in time.
Subway operators will increase the frequency of trains between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. as will bus companies. To prevent traffic jams, parking will be banned within a 200-meter radius of venues.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will restrict aircraft operations near the exam sites so that noise will not disturb students during listening tests.
A total of 125 flights, both domestic and international, operated by national and foreign carriers will have their takeoff schedules altered between 8:35 a.m. and 8:58 a.m. and 1:05 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. Air travelers are required to check their flight schedule in advance."

Well, the Koreans concern alot on academics, much like the Chinese and Japanese do. How good if these were being practised during the time i sat for my Uni entrance exam? I dun have to wait for an hour plus for public bus to get home while memorizing the crappy Kreb cycle...blardy hell!
But again, don't u tink they r doin just a lil' too much over public examination? It's good to give some conveniences and less disturbance during the exam weeks, but going far to such extent could giv much pressure to the students...People around keep focusing on the students and their well-beings...Some might tink tht having this sort of 'emperor' treats might benefit the students, but i would tink otherwise. I may not be able to eat nor sleep well when everyone else kept assuming how well-prepared I am as all other things have been set up for my conveniences, rite? logic?
Anyhow, the younger kids r having their skool holidays now, meanwhile, the older kids r having their exams in these few weeks...here i m to wish them...

2 comments:

Johnny Ong said...

the japanese do the same thing too. the parents will go to exam halls, prepares food / soup for their kids.

if it was a boarding school, the parents will stay overnight too and schools will prepare place for the parents

they didnt over do it as u can see what sort of economy the japanese and korean have

Nux V said...

Johnny Ong: Korean and Japanese job market r indeed competitive. Securing a place in a good uni is hard though, giving lotsa pressure to the younger generation and contribute to the high suicide rate.

St Michael, Barbados

During the weekdays, the driver would picked us (me & colleague) from the apartment at 8am daily. Sometimes he would use different route...