The independent website Daily NK writes, citing its sources, that new optional subjects have been introduced in all upper secondary schools in North Korea. Students had to take qualifying exams to assess their predispositions to their chosen career paths.
Poor test results in North Korean high schools
The exam results were far below the authorities' expectations. The government considered this situation “abnormal” and immediately sent inspection teams to schools. Officials are checking whether the party's education policy is being implemented as per guidelines.
The education department of the local branch of the Workers' Party of Korea ordered that low-achieving students be “eliminated” by transferring them to classes in “basic practical skills” and then sent to places where labor is scarce, such as coal mines or power plant construction sites.
Students in North Korea to be sent to mines. Parents are suspicious
The website's source claims that the ruling party's position is adamant – even the children of officials are to be punished and set as examples. The aim of these activities is to build a nationwide education system in line with the party's standards. Teachers, in turn, are said to “tremble with fear” as they are held responsible for students' poor performance.
Parents suspect that the party uses the label of a “low-achieving student” as an excuse to send young people to work in industries struggling with labor shortages. Some parents with influential contacts even decided to spend all their family savings trying to bribe officials to protect their children.
