Taking Direct Action to 'Protect Teachers' Rights'... Busan Office of Education Holds Teacher Protection Committee Meeting

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education takes direct action to protect teachers' rights.

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 31st that it will hold the 'Teacher Rights Protection Committee (Gyobowi)' at the city education office on August 7 in relation to a recent incident of a student assaulting a teacher at an elementary school in the district.

This measure follows last week's internal investigation and Article 19, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3 of the Act on the Status of Teachers, which states that "matters recognized by the Superintendent of Education as requiring deliberation by the city/provincial Teacher Rights Protection Committee for the protection of teacher rights," aiming to support the prompt recovery of the affected teacher.

According to the plan to improve the protection of educational activities announced on the 24th, Busan Metropolitan Office of Education will support the affected teacher even before the Teacher Rights Protection Committee convenes. Through the 'Education Office Support Team' composed of lawyers and others, initial counseling and representation at the committee will be provided to assist the affected teacher.

In cases where teachers are counter-accused of child abuse or suffer from continuous malicious complaints from parents following incidents infringing on educational activities, the education office will provide legal support through lawyers and respond strongly with legal measures.

Additionally, treatment costs for physical and psychological recovery will be supported up to 2 million KRW, and individual healing expenses up to 500,000 KRW. If the affected teacher wishes, urgent transfer or reassignment to a different workplace will be arranged.

Busan Office of Education.

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education is conducting a survey on the actual conditions of infringement on educational activities targeting all teachers until August 4, and plans to provide legal support and psychological (treatment) expenses based on the survey results.

Furthermore, for incidents of infringement on educational activities occurring after August 1, immediate reporting upon recognition of the incident is required, and the Teacher Rights Protection Committee will be convened regardless of the affected teacher's wishes to strengthen the responsibility of school principals to protect and support the affected teachers.

The city education office plans to urge the Ministry of Education through the Council of Superintendents of Education of Cities and Provinces to amend the law to transfer the duties of the Teacher Rights Protection Committee from schools to education support offices in order to reduce school workload and strengthen teacher rights protection at the education office level.

Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Education of Busan, said, "We will strengthen the education office-led one-stop response to infringements on educational activities to guarantee teachers' rights to teach and safety," adding, "We will continue to take the lead so that teachers can focus solely on educational activities and enjoy happy school life with students."

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