‘교육의 기회균등’의 헌법적 의미와 개선방안

After liberation, South Korea’s education shifted from elite education to public education. The popularization of education contributed in boosting national competitiveness in various areas, economic development, as well as serving as an important foundation for the enhancement of democracy. Nonetheless, there have been criticism that equal educational opportunities in South Korea has deteriorated, making rags to riches story no longer feasible today. As can be confirmed from Korea’s contemporary history, education is one of the important factors that determines an individual’s as well as the nation’s future. When regarding the fact that better education contributes to a better future, education can be viewed as a definite future investment. Therefore, discrimination in education means discrimination in future development possibilities. One typical problem that critics point out is the parent’s economic competence, resulting in unequal educational opportunities. It is natural for the parents to use their wealth to provide better education for their children. However, the problem is that educational opportunities differ depending on the parent’s economic competence; a factor that is irrelevant to one’s ability or effort and is threatening equal educational opportunities, not to mention the foundation of democracy. The deterioration of equal educational opportunities as well as the educational system that is connected to this issue is not a problem that is limited only to those serving in the field. Instead, it should be regarded as a problem that the nation and the public needs to actively participate in and resolve. This article takes such idea as a premise and has searched for the meaning of equal educational opportunity, the reason of its deterioration, as well as feasible solutions. First, the article overviews the concept and character of education as well as the importance of equal educational opportunity. Next, the article reviewed the normalization of public education as a premise for equal educational opportunity and confirmed its importance. Furthermore, to realize equal educational opportunity, the article searched for a way to reform university entrance exam, as well as examining vocational training and lifelong education issues. The future of Korea is determined by education and the future of education is determined by equal opportunity. Since the future Korea without equal education opportunity will undergo extreme discrimination and social conflicts, equal education opportunity is an essential value that cannot be abandoned. Therefore, the effort to expand and strengthen equal educational opportunity should begin right now. If there is no immediate movement for equal educational opportunity, social structure will stiffen, social hierarchy will become fixed, and equal opportunity in the future may be delayed or be lost forever.