'Only 26% of Seoul Elementary Schools Go on Field Trips'... Kim Hankyu: "We Will Change How Schools Handle Malicious Complaints"

Hankyu Kim: "Fear of Responsibility for Complaints and Safety Accidents"

Nationwide Average Only 64%... Reduced Educational Opportunities

"Children Must Not Lose Opportunities for Growth"

Han-kyu Kim, Chief Policy Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 23rd, "We will ensure that schools or offices of education are held responsible for malicious complaints and similar issues on school grounds."

At a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on this day, Kim introduced the current situation in which even elementary school field trips are not taking place due to concerns over complaints and safety accidents. He said, "These days, elementary school students are reportedly unable to go on field trips," adding, "Only 64% of elementary schools nationwide have plans for field-based experiential learning, and in Seoul, the figure is just 26%, meaning only one out of four schools goes on a field trip."

Han-kyu Kim, Chief Policy Deputy Floor Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea Photo by Yonhap News

Kim explained, "Such avoidance of field-based experiential learning is due to the issue of responsibility when complaints or safety accidents occur at the site," and pointed out, "Children should not be deprived of cognitive and social growth opportunities because of adult complaints and issues of responsibility."

He emphasized, "Education is not just about children studying at school," and continued, "Adults have a responsibility to create an environment where children can run and play with friends on the playground and broaden their perspectives through various experiential activities." He further stated, "The Democratic Party of Korea will work with the Ministry of Education to establish basic standards for school educational activities and ensure that it is the school or the office of education, not teachers, that is responsible for responding to malicious complaints."

Kim added, "We will create an environment where schools, parents, and students can all feel at ease about going on field trips through practical system improvements, such as ensuring the effectiveness of the field trip indemnity system."

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