Foreign schools in FEZs

Foreign schools in FEZs

The government is reportedly set to renew efforts to enact a law
on foreign schools in the free economic zones during the
parliamentary session which starts Tuesday. We urge it to make
sure that the law is enacted without further delay.

The existence of world-class foreign universities would
decrease the number of Korean students going abroad for higher
education, reducing the growing deficit in service trade.
According to the data released on Friday, overseas remittances
for education and training totaled about US$2.5 billion last
year, a surge of 34.1 percent from the previous year.

For the government, while it is important to invite foreign
schools, it is just as important to allow private investment to
flow into the education sector. One of the reasons for the
failure of the universities to respond to the manpower needs of
society is the lack of investment in higher education. By lifting
entry barriers to the educational sector, the government will not
only open up investment opportunities for private investors but
accelerate educational reform.

-- The Korea Herald, Seoul