Jeong Seok-woong, Jeonnam Superintendent of Education, Appeals for Restraint in Caregiver Strike

Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education of Jeonnam

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[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education of Jeonnam, issued an emergency statement on the 5th regarding the strike of care workers and strongly urged restraint from participating in the strike.

The statement was made in response to the National School Irregular Workers Solidarity's announcement of a nationwide care workers' strike on the 6th, demanding the abolition of the 'All-day Special Act' and the conversion of part-time care workers to full-time positions.

In the statement, Superintendent Jang expressed gratitude to the care workers who have been working hard to care for children despite the difficulties posed by COVID-19, saying, “I fully understand your intentions, but I ask you to refrain from participating in the strike out of love for the children.”

He added, “Together with the Council of Superintendents of Education of Cities and Provinces, we will participate in the care operation improvement consultative body and strive to reflect the demands of care workers,” and requested cooperation by saying, “Although inconvenience is expected due to the care strike, please understand a little more and, if possible, take care of the children at home.”

He further stated, “For students who inevitably need care, we will provide safe care education by utilizing care workers not participating in the strike and community care institutions.”

Moreover, he said, “Even though the first semester opening was postponed several times, we operated emergency care classrooms for more than two months to minimize care gaps, which I believe is the pride of Jeonnam education where the educational community demonstrated collective intelligence through cooperation and solidarity to overcome difficulties together.”

He also requested, “Even during the strike, please actively cooperate so that safe care can be provided at home and at school.”

Among the 430 elementary schools in the Jeonnam region, 426 operate care classrooms.

It is understood that at 264 of these schools, at least one care worker will participate in the strike. Out of a total of 620 care workers (permanent staff), 385 are expected to participate in the strike, resulting in 8,350 children, which is 62% of the total 13,467 care students, being unable to receive care benefits.

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