Private education vs Self-districted learning

“Last year, consumption on private after-school classes for elementary, middle, and high school students totaled 27.1 trillion won (US$20.6 billion), reflecting a 4.5 percent increase compared to the previous year,” according to resources from Statistics Korea.

Private education academies, known as hagwons in South Korea, are predominant in urban areas and are often seen as essential for students' academic success. Conversely, self-directed learning involves independently managing study sessions. While many view private education as the antithesis of self-directed learning, I believe private education can significantly enhance one's ability to learn independently. This, however, assumes that individuals do not rely solely on private education and are not merely being led along passively.

Students in Korea invest substantial amounts of money in private education. Korean academies often implement repetitive, mechanistic curricula, assigning hefty amounts of homework. This leads to a situation where students begin completing their homework during school lessons. Instead of analyzing and investing time in understanding the material, they are taught by tutors to memorize it.

As a result of the increased study time due to homework, students' test scores improve, driving more students to academies in an endless cycle. Consequently, students no longer think independently or plan their study sessions. They become so dependent on academies that they cannot stop moving from one hagwon to another.

On the other hand, self-directed learning involves practicing through repetition. This practice is effective in improving one's weaknesses since individuals learn their limits and develop strategies to overcome them. Participating in planning and time management enables students to enjoy learning and feel a sense of fulfillment when completing their daily study plans. At CSIA, the emphasis is on self-directed learning. In an environment that promotes self-directed learning, students attend academies only on weekends, receiving necessary guidance while investing the rest of their time in self-improvement.

In Korea, the problem of rote education, which focuses solely on memorization, is significant. Memory and intelligence are related, but memory alone does not indicate high intelligence. Think of it this way: your brain is a closet, and your memories are the clothes you put in it, but intelligence is the ability to mix and match what clothes you wear. It's about selecting the right clothes for the right event, demonstrating how well you can use what you know in various situations.

So, are you simply cramming every piece of clothing you buy into your closet? Or are you organizing them, creating matching ensembles for when you need them?