CR #5: Excessive Competition

It is often said that competition promotes development and improvement. Competition makes people do their best; it prevents them from becoming lethargic, and gives them a strong motivation to put their full efforts into something. This is how competition has worked in this society. However, when competition goes way too far, it causes disastrous results.





Let's talk about Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which is one of the most prestigious science&engineering universities in South Korea. It is said that only selected students who have good talents at Science and Math can enter KAIST. It provides them a high-quality science education, lab facilities, and internship experience. What's more, KAIST also provides them three years of graduate school programs as well.


But the truth is not so. This year, four students in this university committed suicide. Something wrong is happening inside the school. There must be a reason that caused four students to commit suicide. Then, what is it?





Many people say 'excessive competitions' in KAIST forced the students to quit their own lives.  KAIST's main educational policy can be abbreviated into 'Punitive Tuition Fee System', which means students have to pay different tuition fees according to their grades. For example, if students get good GPA in first semester, they have to pay just 2 million won. If they don't get good grades in the semester, they have to pay 6 million won. If they get F, then they have to pay even more money. This is how punitive tuition fee system of KAIST works.


The four students had a common that their grades were not that good. They suffered from the stresses that they had to pay so much money and there is no hope for them. Funny thing is that nobody in the school - faculties, peers, or whoever- actually cared about their pains and frustrations. Everyone in KAIST was living in excessively competitive atmosphere; they just praised how competition can promote the development and improvement of students. Nobody cared much about the side effects.




I think the punitive tuition fee system of KAIST should be abolished. Competition is often good for people. But if it is too excessive, it not only deteriorates their development, but also destroys their lives.  


Motions:
1. THW make students pay different tuition fee according to their grades in the college
2. THBT suicide cannot be justified
3. THBT competition is better than cooperation