Neulbom's Week-Long Ongoing Confusion: "Staffing and Space Issues... Administrative Violence"

Jeon-gyo-jo Investigates 611 Neulbom Schools
Majority of Program Instructors and Administrative Staff Are Teachers
Space Shortage... "Next Class Preparation Disrupted"

It has been a week since Neulbom School has been operated for first graders at 2,741 elementary schools nationwide, but claims have emerged that issues such as teacher shortages and lack of space have not been resolved on site.

The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office on the 12th and announced the results of its own survey on the operation status of Neulbom School, criticizing, "The Ministry of Education's forced implementation of Neulbom is an oppressive 'administrative violence' that does not consider the teachers who suddenly have to take on Neulbom tasks, the students who had to stay in the classroom for long hours without time to adapt to school, or the parents who expected high-quality programs."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the KTU's survey of 611 schools operating Neulbom School from the 4th to the 11th, teachers accounted for the largest proportion among both Neulbom program instructors and administrative staff. It was found that 53.7% of program instructors and 89.2% of administrative staff were teachers. The government had stated that until dedicated personnel are hired, temporary teachers outside the quota would be hired in the first semester to handle Neulbom administrative tasks, but the KTU explained that when temporary teachers could not be hired, existing teachers were also assigned these duties.

Although program instructors can be teachers "if they wish," due to the actual shortage of personnel, teachers were being assigned even if they did not want to. Teacher A said, "If I am assigned to operate the Neulbom program immediately after class, it is impossible to prepare for the next day's lessons, and it is difficult to properly perform my existing duties," pointing out that this disrupts curriculum operation.

Due to the nature of elementary schools where homeroom teachers perform daily tasks in the classroom, cases complaining about lack of space due to the introduction of Neulbom were also confirmed. Teacher B said, "Because of the shortage of classrooms, we are using the first-grade classroom, so after class, we have to hurriedly vacate the classroom twice a week," adding, "If the last class is not properly conducted, it also disrupts preparation for the next class."

Jo Young-guk, Policy Director of the KTU Gangwon Branch, pointed out at the press conference, "The Ministry of Education stated that Neulbom School is a policy to unify the existing after-school programs and care schools, but the existing after-school programs and care programs are maintained separately, and Neulbom has been added, resulting in three programs running chaotically." He added, "Providing Neulbom services at schools by patching teachers without proper personnel and space, as is currently done, is a deception," emphasizing, "The education authorities should establish a care system for which the state is responsible, rather than continuing to expand services centered on schools."

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