The Pyongyang University of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts is grappling with a surge in dropout rates, particularly in its drama department. The university administration is now taking steps to address this growing concern.
A source in North Korea revealed to Daily NK on Oct. 4: “According to a business report for the first half of the year submitted (to the Central Committee) by the University of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts’ party committee last month, there was a significant increase in students in the drama department who were taking a hiatus from their studies or opting not to graduate. The party was notified of the sharp increase in the number of students applying to halt their studies at the beginning of the fall semester on Sept. 1, after the summer vacation.”
The dropout issue is particularly acute among students from flood-affected regions. “A large number of freshmen and sophomores in the drama department who visited homes in North Pyongan, Ryanggang and Jagang provinces during the summer vacation in August have applied to withdraw from the university,” the source explained. “The report for the first half of the year that the university’s party committee submitted at the end of last month stated that the students’ families had suffered too much financial damage from the flooding for them to continue their studies.”
However, financial hardship isn’t the only factor at play. Students are increasingly wary of the challenges in the acting profession. The source noted, “The profession of movie actor is accompanied by economic instability and career uncertainty. Economic reasons of that sort are the main factor behind students dropping out of the university’s drama department.”
Graduates often struggle to secure acting roles without the right political or social connections. Many end up in various cultural and artistic organizations, but as the source points out, “It is not easy to support oneself through acting alone.”
Recognizing these challenges, the university is seeking solutions. “University officials stated in the report they submitted to the Central Committee that systematic educational programs, state support and pragmatic policies are needed to foster an environment that enables success as an actor,” the source said.
In response, authorities are considering several measures to improve retention and support for drama students, including increased scholarships, enhanced academic guidance, and new job placement initiatives.
The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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October 07, 2024 at 12:22PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)