Wrinkles

... The Korea Times : More Children Delaying Primary School Entrance Hankooki.com Nation More Children Delaying Primary School Entrance By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter A few years ago, Korean parents were eager to send their six-year-old children to elementary schools as early as possible to push them to learn more and earlier from peer interactions there.

However, nowadays, an increasing number of parents are delaying enrolling their children in elementary schools for fear that their kids could lag behind others in school performance.

Some parents worry that their children might be bullied or socially insolated from their peers because of their younger age.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the number of six-year-olds who postponed elementary school entrance in the city has been on the rise.

The number rose from 4,632 or 3.4 percent of the total student quota in 2001 to 9,780 or 7.9 percent last year.

The education office said that the current trend for late elementary school enrollment is expected to continue because parents persistently worry about their children¡¯s school activities based on their children¡¯s peers.

Currently, children aged six including children who were born in January to February a year earlier are allowed to enter elementary schools.

According to the office, the ratio of school-aged children not enrolled by their parents will reach 10 percent this year as parents are reluctant to send their children ...

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