With the controversy over the'infringement of learning right' going to the university district where online classes were conducted throughout the semester, Konkuk University decided to partially refund the tuition for the first time.

Today (15th), the Konkuk University Seoul Campus is offering a certain percentage reduction for the next semester tuition for 15,000 students in the first semester of this year at the request of the students, "Please return the tuition fee to compensate for the infringement of the right to study." He said he was planning to finalize the plan by this week.

In April, when the corona19 pandemic made it difficult to conduct normal classes, the Konkuk University Student Association submitted the results of a survey of over 4,000 students to the university headquarters, and the school responded, "We will provide a monetary compensation plan equivalent to a refund."
The university headquarters and the student council held the Tuition Deliberation Committee eight times and discussed ways to refund tuition, and agreed to reduce the tuition fees for the first semester.

However, there are disagreements between the school and the students regarding the exact amount of reduction.

The university headquarters suggested the scholarship budget as the total amount of refund, but the student council refuted, saying, "The scholarship budget was originally allocated for students." An official of the Student Council said, "We are asking the university to refund the tuition fee using all available resources."
Unlike some universities that have responded to requests for tuition refunds by paying'special scholarships', Konkuk University is the first to decide to reduce the amount of tuition bills.

Most universities have argued that even if there were no face-to-face classes, there was no room to return tuition fees due to campus quarantine, remote class infrastructure, and financial deterioration of the university. University groups such as the National Student Council have demanded compensation for infringement of learning rights. Press conferences are held all over the country.

However, as Konkuk University actually refunds tuition fees, it is expected that other universities will not be able to escape the demands of students. 

This is'News Pick'.

(Photo = Yonhap News)