Gyeongnam Office of Education, the Only One Nationwide to Receive Grade 1 in 2022 Integrity Evaluation

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Office of Education received a grade 1, one step up from grade 2 in 2021, in the 2022 Public Institution Integrity Evaluation.

The provincial Office of Education announced on the 26th that it was the only one among the 17 education offices nationwide to achieve a comprehensive integrity grade 1.

According to the provincial Office of Education, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission established a new comprehensive integrity evaluation system that integrates the existing integrity measurement and anti-corruption policy evaluation, and applied it for the first time this year.

The Commission conducted telephone and online surveys from August to November last year targeting a total of 225,000 people, including 160,000 citizens with experience working with public institutions and 65,000 public officials of public institutions.

Gyeongnam Office of Education.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

As a result of the survey, the provincial Office of Education exceeded the national average in both the integrity perception and integrity effort categories.

So far, the provincial Office of Education has implemented measures to enhance integrity, including ▲ Integrity Policy Managers Meetings ▲ Operation of Integrity Promotion Teams and Working Councils ▲ Integrity Cultural Performances ▲ Internal Integrity Surveys ▲ Evaluation of Anti-Corruption Policies in Affiliated Institutions ▲ Operation of the Safe Lawyer System ▲ Revision of Anti-Corruption Regulations ▲ Development of Guidelines and Casebooks.

They also conducted integrity talks and integrity consulting with contractors for construction, services, and supplies, as well as with after-school programs, school meals, and sports team officials.

Superintendent Park Jong-hoon said, “Achieving a grade 1 in integrity for our Office of Education is the result of all public officials participating in integrity policies and striving to spread an integrity culture,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen the image of an integrity institution and take the lead in creating a trusted public service society.”