A Comparative Study of Secondary Chemistry Education in Korea and China

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze secondary school chemistry education in Korea and China in order to identify implications for the improvement of Korean chemistry education. The school systems, curricula, and teacher education related to secondary chemistry education of both countries were compared and analyzed. The 6-3-3-4 school system is used in both countries, and national school curricula are formulated by the Ministries of Education in both countries. The 1996 chemistry curricular standard for advanced middle schools in China, and 1997 chemistry curriculum for Korean high schools were compared in several aspects, followed by comparisons of chemistry teacher education in both countries. Based on the comparative analysis of chemistry education, some ideas and issues which provide implications for improving Korean high school chemistry education were identified. Chemistry teaching in the junior secondary schools, tentative implementation of curricula, required course work in chemistry, structure of curricula, oral assessments, probation of teachers and other issues are identified and discussed in this study.