Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education "Regretful About Demands to Withdraw Innovation School at Gyeongwon Middle School in Seocho-gu"

Uneducational Acts of Group Actions Threatening School Members
Firm Response to Demands for Withdrawal of Innovation School Designation Based on Collective Selfishness
Will Follow Related Procedures According to School Operation Committee Deliberation Results

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education expressed regret over the strong demands from parents to withdraw the designation of Gyeongwon Middle School in Seocho-gu, Seoul, as a village-integrated innovation school.

In a statement on the 11th, the Office of Education said, "If a withdrawal is requested, we will fully respect the opinions of the school members and follow the related procedures," but also criticized, "Group actions that cause school members to feel threatened and anxious inevitably lose their legitimacy and are anti-educational acts."

Gyeongwon Middle School was designated as an innovation school by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and was scheduled to operate from March next year. In a self-conducted survey by the school from August 24 to September 4, the approval rates among parents and teachers were 69% and 80%, respectively.

However, recently, opposition from residents and parents regarding the operation of the innovation school has continued. Residents and parents posted banners with threatening phrases, made phone complaints, and also spread false information on social networking services (SNS). On the 7th, about 200 residents gathered around Gyeongwon Middle School and held a protest demanding the withdrawal of the innovation school designation, which prevented faculty members from leaving the school.

The Office of Education stated, "The collective actions of local residents and parents on the 7th are very concerning and regrettable," and added, "We will take all measures regarding the infringement of teachers' rights and threats to educational rights, and will firmly respond to demands for withdrawal of the innovation school designation based on individual or group selfishness."

Furthermore, the Office of Education announced that it will proceed with related procedures according to the deliberation results of the Gyeongwon Middle School School Operation Committee. It also stated that it will do its utmost to heal the conflicts among students, parents, and residents surrounding the Gyeongwon Middle School innovation school and support the normalization of the school.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.