Ordinance on Seoul City's Basic Academic Achievement Guarantee Support Promulgated by the Chairperson's Authority

Seoul Metropolitan Council Promulgates Ordinance on Support for Basic Academic Skills Guarantee by Chairperson's Authority on the 15th

Ordinance Reconsidered on May 3 and Transmitted to the Office of Education, Promulgated by Chairperson as Superintendent Did Not Promulgate

Article 32, Paragraph 6 of the Local Autonomy Act Stipulates that if the Superintendent Does Not Promulgate within 5 Days, the Chairperson Shall Promulgate

Chairperson Kim Hyun-gi Expresses Regret over the Office of Education’s Plan to File a Supreme Court Appeal and Request for Suspension of Execution

The Seoul Metropolitan Council promulgated the Ordinance on Support for Basic Academic Skills Guarantee of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education by the chairperson's authority on the 15th.

This ordinance establishes the basis for providing incentives and awards for conducting basic academic skills diagnostic tests and disclosing the results, introduces the foundation for Seoul-style basic academic skills, and specifies the responsibilities of the superintendent and others to support the guarantee of basic academic skills.

The ordinance was proposed by the Seoul Education Academic Improvement Special Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council on February 14 and passed the plenary session on March 10. However, the superintendent requested reconsideration on April 3, and it was reconsidered and passed again at the 2nd plenary session of the 318th extraordinary meeting on May 3.

According to Article 32, Paragraph 6 of the Local Autonomy Act, when a reconsidered ordinance is transmitted to the Office of Education, the superintendent must promulgate it without delay, and if the superintendent does not promulgate it within 5 days, the chairperson of the local council shall promulgate the ordinance.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council transmitted the reconsidered ordinance to the Office of Education on May 4, but the superintendent neither promulgated it nor did so, judging that the ordinance violates laws and regulations, and announced through a press release that they plan to file a Supreme Court appeal and request a suspension of execution.

Chairperson Kim Hyun-gi of the Seoul Metropolitan Council responded to the claim that the ordinance is illegal by stating, “The Ordinance on Support for Basic Academic Skills Guarantee of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education was reconsidered through democratic procedures while complying with laws and regulations,” and pointed out, “The work of guaranteeing basic academic skills is clearly a local autonomous matter, and disclosing the results of basic academic skills diagnostic tests by each school is unrelated to any violation of laws.”

He also said, “I deeply regret the irresponsible behavior of the Office of Education in not promulgating the ordinance, and I cannot help but worry about the precariousness of Seoul’s education, which should be responsible for the future of our children,” adding, “According to the Local Autonomy Act, this ordinance was promulgated by the chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council by authority.”

He further expressed strong regret, saying, “The superintendent’s decision to file a Supreme Court appeal regarding this ordinance is an attitude that thoroughly ignores citizens’ right to access information and attempts to normalize public education.”

Finally, Chairperson Kim stated, “Guaranteeing basic academic skills is a fundamental human right of students, and prescribing without diagnosis is illogical,” and said, “The Seoul Metropolitan Council will continue to pay close attention and make efforts to guarantee and improve the basic academic skills of students in the Seoul area.”

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