Gyeonggi Office of Education Establishes 'Reconciliation Mediation Organization' to Resolve Conflicts Within Schools

Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education building exterior

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is establishing a 'Reconciliation Mediation' organization to strengthen the educational resolution of conflicts within schools, such as school violence, student human rights violations, and infringement of teachers' rights.

On the 30th, the Gyeonggi Office of Education announced plans to newly establish and pilot operate reconciliation mediation teams in six education support offices located in Suwon, Seongnam, Goyang, Guri·Namyangju, Yongin, and Hwaseong·Osan. These teams will be responsible for establishing basic plans for reconciliation mediation support related to school conflicts, creating manuals, improving systems, and cooperating with specialized institutions.

The reconciliation mediation teams will be staffed with education professionals, lawyers, and other experts to handle ▲ early intervention and on-site support in school conflict situations ▲ operation of school reconciliation advisory committees ▲ reconciliation mediation and healing counseling ▲ operation of relationship restoration programs ▲ legal consultation, among other duties.

The Gyeonggi Office of Education plans to actively intervene early in conflict situations at individual schools to seek educational resolutions focused on healing and recovery through reconciliation mediation.

A Gyeonggi Office of Education official explained, "Due to the increase in legal responses to conflicts within schools, school educational capacity has weakened, and complaints and lawsuits against responsible teachers or schools have increased due to inadequate rapid responses. Therefore, we decided to establish and operate a reconciliation mediation organization."

The official added, "Reconciliation mediation realizes the value of mutual respect through reconciliation and healing between conflicting parties, while also fostering a peaceful school culture. It includes enabling conflicting parties to carry on with their daily school life without resorting to legal disputes."

According to the Gyeonggi Office of Education, the number of school violence review cases significantly increased from an average of 296 cases per month (3,550 cases annually) last year to an average of 446 cases per month (a total of 2,673 cases) from March to August this year. Cases of infringement on educational activities rose from 539 cases last year, averaging 45 cases per month, to 406 cases from March to August this year, averaging 68 cases per month.

Additionally, the Gyeonggi Office of Education is considering revising the Gyeonggi-do Student Human Rights Ordinance to promote balanced development of student human rights and teachers' rights. The ordinance revision will emphasize students' responsibilities to respect others' right to learn and teachers' educational activities.