The Launch of the National Education Committee Scheduled for July 21 Delayed

Only 4 out of 21 Education Committee Members Confirmed
Ministry of Education: "Delay in Institution and Organization Recommendations"

The launch of the National Education Commission, originally scheduled for the 21st, has been postponed. Due to delays in forming the committee, it will be difficult to operate at the time the law takes effect.

As of the 17th, the Ministry of Education has received a recommendation for a National Education Commissioner from one institution, the Council of College Education. The National Education Commission consists of a total of 21 members, including 5 appointed by the President, 9 recommended by the National Assembly, 2 recommended by teacher-related organizations, 1 each recommended by the Council of University Presidents and the Council of College Education, 1 recommended by the Association of Provincial Governors, and the Vice Minister of Education and a representative of the Provincial Superintendents of Education.

So far, four individuals have been confirmed or recommended as commissioners. They are Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education; Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and representative of the Association of Provincial Superintendents of Education; and Nam Seong-hee, President of the Council of College Education and President of Daegu Health College, recommended by the Council of College Education. The Council of University Presidents has decided to recommend Hong Won-hwa, President of Kyungpook National University, and plans to send an official letter soon.

The Ministry of Education stated, "Considering the recommendation status of each institution and organization, and the preparation of the organizational structure, it is difficult to launch on July 21, but we are making efforts to activate it as soon as possible. July 21, the date the law takes effect, is the point when the law becomes effective, and the commission can be launched once conditions are met after the law’s enforcement date. Previous similar committees also had different dates for the law’s enforcement and their launch."

The National Education Commission is formed through recommendations from various institutions and organizations, but with the ongoing vacancy of the Minister of Education and the National Assembly’s leadership not yet formed, it is expected to take considerable time.

The National Education Commission is responsible for establishing the National Education Development Plan, setting standards and content for the national curriculum, and collecting and coordinating public opinions on education policy. It will also be in charge of reviewing and deciding on the revised 2022 curriculum, which is scheduled to be announced by the end of this year.

Among the 21 commissioners, 14?two-thirds?are recommended by the National Assembly and the President, raising concerns about political neutrality. It is also necessary to clearly distinguish roles to avoid a redundant "roof-on-roof" structure with the Ministry of Education regarding authority and functions.

Song Ki-chang, a professor in the Department of Education at Sookmyung Women’s University, said, "The composition of the commission is the most important. Although it was promoted as a super-administration, super-partisan body, including 5 presidential appointees inevitably reflects the ruling party’s stance, and the National Assembly’s recommendations are similar. The key is how balanced the chairperson’s perspective is in handling education issues. It is also important how the overlapping functions between the Ministry of Education and the National Education Commission are adjusted, and how the power relationship between the Ministry and the commission is managed smoothly without conflict."

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