Fixed-term teachers receive seniority credit upon obtaining 'Level 1 Master Teacher' certification during contract period

Ministry of Education Lifts Grade 14 Step Limit for Retired Personnel Reappointment

Temporary Teachers' Union of Korea and Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union members are holding a press conference on September 17, 2018, in front of the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul, demanding the abolition of seniority-based promotion discrimination against temporary teachers and urging recommendations for correction of discrimination. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] From now on, if a contract-based teacher obtains certification by completing the Level 1 regular teacher training during their contract, they will be eligible to receive a salary increased by one step.

The Ministry of Education announced on the 4th that it has established and will implement the "Regulations on Salary Payment for Contract-Based Teachers" containing these provisions.

Accordingly, if a contract-based teacher acquires regular teacher certification and applies for career credit recognition, starting next month, they will be able to have their salary recalculated with a one-step increase, improving their treatment. Previously, even if certification was obtained during the contract period, the salary calculated at the time of contract signing was fixed and paid until the contract ended.

The salary recalculation due to qualification changes will be applied retroactively from January 1 of this year, but teachers who missed applying in January can submit their application within one year after the regulation is enforced to have their career credit recognized.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education decided not to apply the uniform limitation of step 14 when appointing retirees as contract-based teachers to those who are scheduled to receive pensions such as the Government Employees Pension or Private School Teachers Pension. Until now, retirees receiving pensions were limited to step 14 to prevent double financial benefits, but there have been criticisms that this restriction is unreasonable for teachers whose pension receipt period has not yet arrived.

An official from the Ministry of Education said, "After long consultations with related departments, metropolitan and provincial offices of education, and contract-based teachers, this regulation has come to fruition," and added, "We hope this will boost the morale of contract-based teachers and ultimately help enhance the quality of school education."