The Nature of Reform and Trends of Recent Changes in North Korean Education

This article discusses one of the documents, Themes Concerning Socialist Education(TCSE), that have laid the foundation of educational practices and theories in North Korea in light it its role and meaningfulness in the context of their contemporary education. Originally written by Kim, Il-Sung, the founder of North Korea, in 1977, TCSE sets the directions of education that must liberate its people from the oppressive teachings done during the Japanese occupation and enable them to become capable citizens of a socialist nation. While there is found a great degree of discrepancy between ideal and reality in today’s North Korean Education, the directions and principles TCSE established still resonate insightful as turning back to the basics could be enlightening in reforming any country’s education.