"Abolish High School Admission Screening for Children of Employees in Innovation Cities"

Citizen Group for a Society Without Academic Elitism Claims Violation of 'Constitutional Spirit' and Special Privileges

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Citizens' Group for a Society Without Academic Elitism has called for the abolition of admission privileges for children of employees of institutions relocated to Naju Innovation City.

On the 29th, the group stated in a press release that admission privileges for children of employees of public institutions relocated to Innovation City to enter frontline high schools in Jeonnam are still being maintained, and urged the education authorities to abolish the related admission procedures at the respective schools.

They said, "According to the '2021 High School Admission Basic Plan' announced by the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, children of Innovation City employees can apply to special-purpose high schools such as Jeonnam Foreign Language High School and Jeonnam Science High School through the 'admission process outside the quota (10% of the quota).'" They added, "Contrary to last year's response from the Jeonnam Office of Education to the People's Newspaper, the admission privileges for children of Innovation City employees are still being overlooked."

They continued, "Such privileges cause relative deprivation based on discrimination against general students," and argued, "The admission process outside the quota for children of Innovation City employees is uniquely implemented only at special-purpose high schools located in Jeonnam among the 11 Innovation Cities in various provinces and cities, which is an excessive interpretation of the 'Special Act on the Construction and Support of Innovation Cities due to the Relocation of Public Institutions to Local Areas.'"

Furthermore, they emphasized, "Article 31 of the Constitution grants 'all citizens the right to receive equal education according to their abilities,' and Article 11 states that 'no discrimination shall be made on the basis of social status, and no social special class system shall be recognized.' Allocating special-purpose high school admission opportunities taken away from ordinary citizens to children of Innovation City employees clearly violates the spirit of the Constitution."

The Citizens' Group for a Society Without Academic Elitism plans to file a public interest audit against the Jeonnam Office of Education, Jeonnam Foreign Language High School, and Jeonnam Science High School based on the National Human Rights Commission Act and other laws.