Candidate Minseok Ahn: "We Will Create a System Where Teachers Teach and Administration Takes Responsibility"

Minseok Ahn, Candidate for Gyeonggi Superintendent of Education

Policy Meeting with Gyeonggi Integrated Labor Union

"Realizing School Support-Centered Educational Administration"

An Minseok, the unified Democratic Progressive candidate for superintendent of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, held a policy meeting with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Integrated Public Officials Labor Union on May 9 and pledged a major shift in educational administration from a district office-centered approach to a "school site-centered" system.

An Minseok, the unified candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party for Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education, received a policy proposal from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Integrated Public Officials Union on the 9th. Photo provided by candidate An Minseok

On this day, the union delivered a policy proposal reflecting the voices of the field to candidate An. The main proposals included: ▲ Conducting a workforce assessment and redeployment of educational administration institutions through specialized agencies ▲ Diversifying the structure and changing the roles of school administration offices ▲ Expanding training opportunities for local public officials ▲ Introducing a labor secretary system directly under the superintendent.

In particular, the union pointed out that despite the increasing number of newly established schools and the rising demand for separating district offices, workforce shortages at the school level are worsening due to limitations on the total personnel budget. The union also stressed the need to address the distorted structure in which, as educational administrative bodies expand, internal staffing increases at the institutions themselves rather than in the school field.

The changing role of school administrative offices was also a major topic. The union noted that with the increasing administrative demands at schools, staff shortages and conflicts among job categories are becoming more severe. It proposed reorganizing the system for school administrative support to reduce teachers' administrative work and separate educational and administrative functions.

Expanding training for local public officials and strengthening the labor-management communication system were also discussed. The union explained that it is necessary to expand long-term policy training tailored to rank and position, preventive labor-management relations training, and training aimed at enhancing work capabilities. It also proposed creating a structure in which the superintendent and labor organizations can communicate directly.

Candidate An stated, "I take seriously the criticism that while the education office organization has grown, the school field has become more difficult," adding, "The standard for educational administration should be the experience at the school site, not the convenience of the main office or district offices."

He continued, "A structure is needed in which teachers can focus on teaching while administrative work is handled by administrators. Transforming the educational administrative system in an advanced and rational manner is the starting point for a school support-centered educational administration."

He also added, "The proposals raised in this meeting—such as optimizing school work processes, reducing teachers' administrative burdens, redesigning district office functions, and professionalizing school facility management—are aligned with the direction of administrative innovation. We will accept the demands from the field as tasks for school support-centered educational administration and work together to develop concrete solutions."

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