'English kindergarten' tuition more expensive than university

In a new report released on September 25, the World Without Worry About Private Education (WWWAPE, South Korea) organization said that the average annual tuition for "English kindergartens" in the capital Seoul will reach 15.72 million won (over 295 million VND) in 2023, 2-3 times higher than the average university tuition of 6.78 million won/year (over 127 million VND), according to the Korea Herald .

The number of English kindergartens in Seoul will increase to 333 in 2023, up from 329 last year. The average monthly tuition fee (2023) is 1.31 million won, up 10.2 percent from 1.18 million won (2022).

Under Korean law, English kindergartens are only recognized as language academies, not kindergartens.

The WWWAPE report also shows that 333 English kindergartens provide more than 60 hours of study per month, with an average daily teaching time of 5 hours and 29 minutes.

Of the five most expensive English kindergartens, three are located in Seoul’s Seocho-gu district. One school in Seocho-gu alone charges more than 3 million won per month, meaning the annual tuition is 5.5 times higher than that of a university.

English kindergartens are aimed at young children, usually aged 2-6, before entering primary school. The programme is designed on a comprehensive English education foundation, including a range of subjects combined with early childhood care in an intensive English learning environment, taught mainly by native English teachers.

However, under Korea's current preschool education law, these English kindergartens are actually classified as language academies, not kindergartens.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoc-phi-truong-mau-giao-tieng-anh-dat-hon-dai-hoc-185240928235342849.htm