Kyochon Visits Transition Team "Keep Ministry of Education, Postpone High School Credit System"

Meeting with Transition Committee Secretary Park Seong-jung to Deliver Proposals for Education Policy Improvement

On the 23rd, Kwon Taek-hwan, Acting President of the Korea Teachers' Union (right), is explaining educational policy improvement tasks to Park Seong-jung, Secretary of the Science and Technology Education Division.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) visited the Presidential Transition Committee to request the preservation of the Ministry of Education and the postponement of the full implementation of the high school credit system scheduled for 2025.

On the 23rd, Kwon Taek-hwan, acting president of KFTA, and former KFTA president Ha Yoon-soo met with Park Sung-joong, secretary of the Science and Technology Education Division, to convey key educational policy improvement agendas that the new government should urgently pursue.

KFTA demanded ▲ the preservation of the Ministry of Education as an independent central government agency ▲ postponement of the full implementation of the high school credit system in 2025 ▲ reconsideration of the introduction of the 2022 revised curriculum ▲ and re-amendment of the enforcement decree to abolish autonomous private high schools (Jasago) and foreign language high schools (Oego) in 2025.

KFTA urged, "To eliminate educational disparities and inequalities between regions caused by the ideology of superintendents and to ensure equal and stable student education through educational finance, teacher supply and demand, and curriculum, it is essential to preserve the Ministry of Education as an independent central government agency."

They added, "An exclusive executive agency dedicated to education is also necessary to carry out key educational pledges of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, such as integrating kindergarten and elementary education, strengthening elementary care, and guaranteeing basic academic skills," emphasizing, "The role of the Ministry of Education is important to realize the state's educational responsibilities and the principle of educational legality as stipulated in the Constitution."

Regarding the high school credit system, they stated, "Forcing full implementation in 2025 without proper preparation simply because it was the Moon Jae-in administration's first educational pledge is a typical example of policy entrenchment," and added, "It should be postponed until sufficient measures such as securing regular teachers, resolving regional educational disparities, and reforming the college entrance system are adequately addressed."

KFTA also demanded the re-amendment of the enforcement decree to convert autonomous private high schools and foreign language high schools into general high schools starting in 2025. KFTA proposed, "Management and support should be provided so that autonomous private high schools operate according to their founding purposes, guaranteeing diverse educational choices for students and parents," and suggested, "The high school system should not be influenced by the ideology of administrations or superintendents; therefore, the basic types and operations of schools should be directly specified by law."

Acting President Kwon Taek-hwan stated, "Education must be based on law, principles, fairness, and common sense, free from political factions, ideology, unilateralism, and monopolization," and urged, "Please implement educational policies that protect educational professionalism, respect diversity and autonomy, and restore an educational community where rights and duties are balanced."

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