Ministry of Education's Measures Against Teacher Rights Violations Seen as 'Desk-bound Administration'... Frontline Teachers Say "Not Applicable in the Field"

Ministry of Education Recently Established Teacher Protection System
Teacher Organizations "Guidelines Needed for Field Application"
Ministry of Education "Conducting Policy Research and Gathering Opinions"

Following the incident on the 18th in which a teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School took their own life, the issue of infringement on teachers' authority has come to the forefront, prompting the Ministry of Education to promise prompt institutional improvements. Previously, the Ministry of Education announced the 'Measures to Prevent Infringement on Educational Activities' last year and revised the enforcement decree, but teachers in the field have criticized these measures as mere desk administration.

In December of last year, the Ministry of Education announced the 'Measures to Prevent and Strengthen Response to Infringement on Educational Activities.' According to the plan announced at the time, serious disruptions to classes were newly classified as a type of infringement on educational activities, and it included provisions to immediately separate the infringing student when such incidents occur. Additionally, it mandated that significant infringement cases be recorded in the school life record book. In March, through the 'Notice on Standards for Infringement on Educational Activities and Measures,' the Ministry also added "acts that intentionally disrupt educational activities by refusing to comply with a teacher's legitimate guidance" as a type of infringement on educational activities.

In the same month, the National Assembly amended the 'Elementary and Secondary Education Act' to stipulate teachers' authority over student life guidance. This allows teachers to guide students according to laws and school regulations when necessary for educational activities. Furthermore, the enforcement decree was revised to enable teachers to discipline and admonish students.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, teachers unanimously say that these measures are not applied in actual field situations. Cho Sung-chul, spokesperson for the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations, said, "There is only a general outline, but no executable enforcement plan that can be implemented in schools," adding, "It is not being applied in the field." He explained, "For example, there is no manual that allows immediate sanctions when a student disrupts a class right in front of you," and emphasized, "Guidelines that allow immediate action must be created."

Teacher organizations such as the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations and the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union are calling for the Ministry of Education to prepare a ministerial notice specifying these contents, as well as to establish systems to respond to indiscriminate child abuse reports and malicious complaints.

Regarding this, the Ministry of Education stated, "We are conducting policy research to establish standards concerning the specific scope and methods of guidance, and we plan to promptly prepare and announce guidelines through collecting opinions from the field." On the 21st, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, promised at a meeting with field teachers to reorganize the Student Human Rights Ordinance and improve the consultation process between teachers and parents. On the same day, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, visited Seoi Elementary School and pledged to urge the passage of the 'Ordinance for the Protection of Educational Activities.' Last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education submitted an ordinance containing provisions to prevent infringement on teachers' right to learn, but it has not passed the Seoul Metropolitan Council's review.

Along with this, the Ministry of Education promised to support the National Assembly's amendment of the 'Teacher Status Act (Special Act for the Improvement of Teacher Status).' This would establish by presidential decree measures such as separating infringing students and recording significant infringement cases in the school life record book.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the same day, Superintendent Cho and representatives of the three major teacher organizations?the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, and the Seoul Teachers Union?will hold an emergency joint press conference. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to listen to field opinions and discuss countermeasures.

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