Kyochong and Teachers' Union Request Legislation
"Immunity Should Be Granted for Teacher's Student Guidance"
Frontline school teachers have demanded improvements to related systems, arguing that educational activities are excessively restricted due to excessive reports of child abuse.
The Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA) announced that it has requested cooperation from members of the National Assembly's Education Committee for a legal amendment granting immunity to teachers for legitimate student guidance.
Recently, the KFTA prepared and submitted to the National Assembly a revision bill titled the "Special Act on the Improvement of Teachers' Status and Protection of Educational Activities" or the "Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes," centered on granting immunity for student guidance. The amendment includes provisions stating "legitimate student guidance by teachers shall not be regarded as child abuse crimes" and "no criminal liability shall be imposed in cases without intentional or gross negligence."
Additionally, the bill newly establishes provisions requiring that teachers who receive child abuse reports must consult with their affiliated education office before investigations, and that if a child abuse report is found to be false or malicious, the reporter can be charged with obstruction of business or related offenses.
Reference photo. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Yonhap News
According to a survey conducted by the KFTA in January targeting 5,520 teachers from kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide, 77.0% of teachers responded that they feel anxiety about being reported as perpetrators of child abuse during the student guidance process. Furthermore, 47.5% answered that they themselves have been reported for child abuse or have witnessed colleagues being reported. In a survey conducted last month by the teachers' union, the top priority issue urgently needing resolution for normal educational activities was the punishment of false child abuse reports (38.2%).
As teachers perceive the situation this way, the popularity of teaching, once a preferred profession, is declining. In this year's university entrance regular admissions, 11 out of 13 teacher training colleges and education departments were effectively under-enrolled. At frontline schools, there is a tendency to avoid homeroom teacher assignments.
To restore teachers' authority, the Ministry of Education announced and implemented the "Notification on Standards for Acts Infringing on Educational Activities and Corresponding Measures" in March. According to the revised notification, students who obstruct teachers' legitimate educational activities and student guidance will face measures such as school service, community service, special education completion, psychological treatment, class reassignment, suspension, transfer, or expulsion depending on the severity of the situation.
However, teacher organizations maintain that legal sanctions against false child abuse reports are necessary. A KFTA official stated, "To protect the learning rights of many students, the National Assembly and government must amend related laws to guarantee at least the minimum rights of teachers."
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