A recent survey in South Korea has revealed that almost every university and college student in the country is demanding a refund of their tuition fees for the spring semester, on the grounds that moving classes online because of the coronavirus epidemic dropped their quality.
More than 21,000 students currently attending 203 universities and colleges took part in the poll conducted by a network of university student councils around South Korea.
Around 99.2 percent of the participants stated they were asking for either full or partial refund of their spring semester tuition.
The outcome of the study was announced at a press conference of the student councils network in the nation’s capital, Seoul, on April 21, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Nearly 55 percent of the surveyed students want a refund of at least half of the amount they paid, while 9.5 percent are seeking a full refund. Around 28.4 percent are asking for a 20 to 30 percent refund.
The students’ request stems from the poor quality of online lectures that have become the new standard for university education in South Korea, as well as many other countries around the world after the coronavirus crisis hit them.
Another reason for the refund demand is that most facilities on university and college campuses have become useless.
