"Due to 5-Tier Grading System?" Dropout Surge Claims Refuted by Ministry of Education

The fourth piece of news today concerns recent reports suggesting that an increasing number of students are dropping out of high school due to the burden of the school grading system.

The Ministry of Education has taken the unusual step of refuting these claims made by the college admissions industry.

The Ministry of Education held a briefing yesterday.

The Ministry stated that the number of first-year general high school students who dropped out in the 2025 academic year, when the 5-tier grading system was introduced, did not show a significant increase compared to previous years. They analyzed that it is difficult to conclude that the 5-tier grading system alone is the cause of the increase in dropouts.

The Ministry also refuted criticisms that the shift from a 9-tier to a 5-tier grading system has weakened the ability to differentiate student performance.

According to the Ministry of Education's investigation, only 1.08% of all first-year students at general high schools nationwide in 2025 received a grade of 1 in all subjects for both the first and second semesters.

Considering this trend, it is estimated that the number of students who receive a grade of 1 in all subjects by their third year will be smaller than the total admission quota for medical schools.

The Ministry of Education pointed out that the claim that it is difficult to get into a university in Seoul without receiving a grade of 1 in all subjects is merely fear-based marketing by private education institutions.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.