Invitation of Private Education Lecturers for College Entrance Explanation Sessions, Held in 51 Locations Nationwide... Also Confirmed in Gochang County, Jeollabuk-do
사교육걱정없는세상(이하 사교육걱정)이 전국 지자체, 시도교육청, 학교의 '대입 설명회' 운영 실태를 조사한 결과, 올해(1~8월) 사교육 기관 종사자를 연사로 초빙한 곳이 총 51곳으로 나타났다. 이는 같은 기간 설명회를 개최한 146곳 중 약 34%에 해당하는 수치다. 특히 전북에서는 고창군이 7월 16일 동리국악당에서 사교육 연사를 초빙한 설명회를 진행한 것으로 확인됐다.
사교육걱정은 2023년 11월 교육부가 "입시설명회를 사교육 업체와 연계·공동개최하거나 사교육 업체 임직원을 초청하지 말라"는 취지의 공문을 17개 시도교육청·광역지자체에 발송했음에도 불구하고, 공공기관에서 여전히 사교육 연사를 초빙하고 있다고 지적했다. 단체는 이를 "국민 세금으로 사교육의 공신력을 높이는 자해적 관행"이라며 교육당국의 엄격한 금지 지침과 처벌 규정을 요구했다.
지역별로 살펴보면, 수도권과 영남 일부 지역에서 사교육 연사 초빙 사례가 두드러졌다. 서울 12곳, 경기 7곳, 경북 8곳 등으로 집계됐으며, 특히 강남·서초·송파 등 '강남 3구'에서 열린 설명회는 모두 사교육 업체·종사자를 초청했다. 이는 "정보 접근성이 낮은 지역일수록 사교육 의존도가 높다"는 기존 통념과 달리, 사교육 의존도가 큰 지역에서 오히려 '사교육 초빙 설명회'가 더 빈번하게 열리고 있음을 보여준다.
단체는 공교육 내에서도 대입 안내를 위한 충분한 인력이 갖춰져 있다고 강조했다. 한국대학교육협의회의 '대입상담교사단'이 500명으로 증원됐고, 서울시교육청(109명), 전북교육청(155명) 등 시·도교육청의 '대학진학지도지원단' 역시 상담과 강의가 가능한 강사진을 운영 중이다. 그럼에도 일부 지자체가 사교육 연사를 초빙하는 것은 "공공 인프라를 활용하지 않고 사교육에 의존하는 세금 낭비"라고 비판했다.
사교육걱정은 교육부에 △상반기 설명회 전수조사 착수 △반복 위반 기관에 대한 상응 조치 △대입상담교사단·진학지도지원단 활용 지침 마련을 요구했다. 또한 "재발 시 국민청원 등 강경한 시민운동을 전개하겠다"고 밝히며, 공공기관의 사교육 조장 행위를 막기 위한 사회적 연대를 호소했다.
Dependence on private education in the public domain sparks controversy, calling for a comprehensive investigation and preventive measures to be taken by city and provincial education offices
Concerns about private education (hereinafter referred to as "concerns about private education") conducted a survey on the operation status of "college entrance explanation sessions" by local governments, city and provincial education offices, and schools nationwide. The results showed that a total of 51 places invited private education personnel as speakers during the sessions held from January to August this year, out of 146 places that held such sessions, accounting for approximately 34%. In particular, it was confirmed that Gochang County in Jeonbuk Province held an explanation session on July 16th at Dongri Gukakdang, inviting private education speakers.
Despite the Ministry of Education's issuance of a circular in November 2023 stating, "Do not collaborate or co-host college entrance explanation sessions with private education companies or invite private education company employees," concerns about private education pointed out that public institutions are still inviting private education speakers. They demanded strict prohibition guidelines and punishment regulations from educational authorities, calling it a "self-destructive practice of enhancing the credibility of private education with taxpayers' money."
Looking at the regions, cases of inviting private education speakers were prominent in some areas of the capital region and Yeongnam. It was counted as 12 places in Seoul, 7 places in Gyeonggi, and 8 places in Gyeongbuk. Particularly, the explanation sessions held in the 'Gangnam 3 Districts' such as Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa all invited private education companies and personnel. This shows that contrary to the existing belief that areas with low information accessibility rely more on private education, regions with a high dependence on private education are actually holding 'private education-invited explanation sessions' more frequently.
The organization emphasized that there are enough personnel within public education for college entrance guidance. The 'College Entrance Counseling Teacher Group' of the Korean Council for University Education has been increased to 500 members, and city and provincial education offices such as Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (109 members) and Jeonbuk Provincial Office of Education (155 members) are also operating 'University Admission Guidance Support Teams' with instructors capable of counseling and lecturing. Nevertheless, criticizing that some local governments inviting private education speakers is a "waste of taxpayers' money by relying on private education without utilizing public infrastructure."
Concerns about private education demanded that the Ministry of Education △initiate a comprehensive investigation of the first half of the year's explanation sessions △take appropriate measures against repeat violators △establish guidelines for utilizing the College Entrance Counseling Teacher Group and University Admission Guidance Support Teams. They also stated that they would "launch a strong citizen movement through petitions if there are recurrences," appealing for social solidarity to prevent public institutions from promoting private education.
