Government's 'Student Rights Ordinance Amendment and School Records Entry' Faces Opposition from Teachers' Union and Opposition Parties

"Blurring the Issue" vs "Excessive Emphasis on Student Rights"
Proposal for School Records Includes "Anti-Educational"
Disagreement Among Parties, Possible Conflict in Education Committee

After a teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School took their own life, the education authorities proposed measures such as revising the Student Human Rights Ordinance and preparing a Ministry of Education notification. However, opinions are divided among educational organizations and some political circles regarding the government's announced ordinance revision and the proposal to record certain matters in the school life record book. Conflicts are also expected during the future promotion process of the government’s plan and the National Assembly’s legislative bill.

On the 24th, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, held a meeting with on-site teachers at the Teachers' Union Federation office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, and promised to prepare the Ministry of Education notification by next month. Along with this, he pointed out problems with the Student Human Rights Ordinances enacted by each metropolitan and provincial office of education since 2010 and announced plans to push for ordinance revisions. He also stated that serious infringements on educational activities would be recorded in the school life record book to strengthen accountability for offending students. Earlier that day, President Yoon Seok-yeol also instructed the Ministry of Education notification and the revision of autonomous ordinances.

However, opinions differ regarding the government’s plan. Jeong Seong-guk, president of the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations, said, "One of the main causes of not only the extreme choice by the Seoul elementary school teacher but also the recent series of serious infringements on teachers' rights is the excessive emphasis on student human rights," adding, "To restore the collapsed teachers' rights, the Student Human Rights Ordinance must be thoroughly reviewed and reorganized." On the other hand, Park Geun-byeong, chairman of the Seoul Teachers' Union, said at a meeting with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the same day, "I oppose the issue being reduced to political disputes or factional logic as the problem is attributed to the Student Human Rights Ordinance," and added, "Only six or seven metropolitan and provincial offices have the Student Human Rights Ordinance."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

There is also disagreement between progressive superintendents and teachers' unions regarding the proposal to record serious infringements on teachers' rights in the student life record book. They argue that it is an excessive measure from an educational perspective and could serve as grounds for subsequent lawsuits against teachers. Kim Seong-bok, head of the Seoul branch of the National Teachers' Union, countered, "Schools will once again treat teachers as offenders, and legal disputes will engulf schools throughout the year," adding, "This is not the alternative teachers want." Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, also expressed concerns. He said, "(Metropolitan and provincial superintendents) all agreed with the Ministry of Education’s plan, but opinions diverged among superintendents on this one point (recording in the life record book)."

Opinions also clashed in the National Assembly between ruling and opposition parties. Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "Many argue that the Student Human Rights Ordinance was also a cause," adding, "If that part needs revision or party-level measures, I think action should be taken." On the other hand, Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, countered, "Student human rights and educational rights are not a matter of choosing one over the other," and said, "It should be approached cautiously." The People Power Party and the government plan to hold a party-government consultative meeting at the National Assembly on the 26th to discuss measures to protect teachers' rights, including the revision of the Student Human Rights Ordinance.

This is likely to become a contentious issue during the legislative process in the National Assembly. The 'Teacher Status Act Amendment Bill,' proposed by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Tae-gyu in August last year and currently pending, requires that details of students who infringe on educational activities be recorded in the school life record book, and it is expected to be submitted to the full meeting of the National Assembly’s Education Committee on the 28th. An opposition member of the Education Committee said, "Currently, public opinion supports protecting teachers, but strengthening teachers' rights should not be anti-educational or anti-human rights," adding, "Some laws have significant side effects if touched, and if both ruling and opposition parties only make hardline statements, the bill may not pass."

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