Jeong Seok-woong, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, Urges 'Stop' to Forced Teacher Competency Development Evaluation

Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam Province, expressed concerns about the Ministry of Education's insistence on conducting teacher competency development evaluations and urged reconsideration. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education of Jeonnam, expressed concerns about the Ministry of Education's plan to proceed with the teacher competency development evaluation and urged reconsideration.

On the 25th, Superintendent Jang stated in a press release, "Considering the serious situation where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading, the Ministry of Education should stop attempting to push forward with the teacher competency development evaluation and join hands to support the recovery of daily school life."

Superintendent Jang pointed out, "Formal teacher evaluations that rank teachers on a 5-point scale, as is currently done, do not guarantee the effectiveness of enhancing teacher professionalism. Rather, they only increase teachers' workload and conflicts in the classroom, which will inevitably harm students in the end."

He added, "Even though the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education adopted and delivered a statement on the 18th of last month requesting a postponement of the teacher competency development evaluation, the Ministry of Education's decision to proceed disregards the voices from the field."

He further emphasized, "The reason why metropolitan and provincial superintendents requested a postponement of the teacher competency development evaluation is because they share the recognition that protecting students' learning and safety from COVID-19 by fostering teachers' responsibility and a cooperative school culture should be the top priority, rather than increasing unnecessary workload and conflicts in schools. A fundamental reconsideration of the teacher competency development evaluation should follow through deliberations within the educational community."

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