South Korean students have decided to collectively sue their government after a college admission examination was cut short by around 90 seconds.
According to the lawsuit, the students are seeking damages of up to 20 million won, or around $15,400, which amounts to the cost of studying for and taking the exam again the following year.
Students Demand Compensation
According to a lawyer representing the upset students, he argues the teacher’s blunder negatively affected the test results of many pupils.
So, the 39 students from a high school in the nation’s capital, Seoul, have demanded compensation as they plan to retake the test the following year.
Teachers’ Mistakes Had Severe Consequences for Students
According to the students’ lawyer, the exam teacher’s blunder led to him prematurely setting off an alarm indicating the test was now finished.
The students, backed by their lawyers, argue that while it was only 90 seconds early, it dramatically affected their overall test scores.
Mistake Came During a Tough Category
The mistake was made during the first of many tests. Throughout the day, various examinations are carried out, each based on a different subject.
The mistake occurred during a particularly tough section of the test, and students argue that every second counts when their future is at stake.
School Tries to Correct the Error
After realizing they had made a mistake, the school returned the papers to the students after they returned from a short lunch break, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency (via BBC).
However, they were only given 90 seconds to work on any questions they did not get the chance to finish. They were not allowed to change answers that had already been marked.
Students Hopeful for Compensation
The students are hopeful the government will correct the mistake and pay them the full compensation they have requested.
The money is going toward retaking the test in the following year, which will require a full year of study.
Focus of Students Affected
The pupils affected by the teacher’s apparent blunder claimed it disturbed their focus on the exams that followed later in the day.
According to reports, some were so distraught by the mistake that they decided to skip further exams and go home early.
Education Authorities Haven’t Apologized
The law firm representing the students claims the education authorities did not issue a single apology to the students who were affected.
It also alleged the teacher who rang the bell used a personal device to do so instead of a state-designated clock (via Yonhap).
Intense Pressure on Students
Media outlets have suggested that the case is a perfect example of the intense pressure placed on students across South Korea.
Each year, thousands of Korean teenagers partake in the difficult “Suneung” daylong examination after revising for hours in so-called cram schools.
The Path to a Prestigious University
Added pressure is placed on the students as only those with the highest marks have any chance of applying for a space at any of the nation’s top universities.
Students are openly taught in South Korea that the best way to ensure they can get a high-paying job in the future is by doing well in this exam.
Education Blammed for Teenage Depression
The Asian nation’s ultra-competitive education system has had a direct effect on the ever-increasing levels of depression and suicide among the younger generation.
As the exam results are viewed as a way in which young people can begin to climb the social status ladder and possibly receive future marriage proposals, it brings with it unbearable pressure for the students.
Nationwide Measure to Minimize Distractions
The examination is held with such high regard that nationwide measures are introduced on the day to ensure students have little to no distractions.
These include banning aircraft takeoff or landings during the listening portion of the English test. This year alone, it led to the rescheduling of more than 90 flights.
