Teachers will be allowed to discipline students for character issues... Amendment passes Cabinet meeting

The revised bill, which includes provisions allowing school principals and teachers to admonish students in areas such as academics, career guidance, character, and interpersonal relationships, has passed the Cabinet meeting.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Education announced that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, containing these provisions, was reviewed and approved at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office.

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According to the revised bill, school principals or teachers may guide students through advice, counseling, caution, discipline, or admonition in fields such as academics, career, health and safety, character, and interpersonal relationships. The Ministry of Education plans to conduct policy research on the specific scope and methods of student life guidance, gather opinions from the field, and then prepare and announce guidelines.

The amendment also specifies detailed matters such as the scope of information collection and retention periods so that the Minister of Education and education superintendents can database the results of surveys on students at risk of dropping out.

This will enable the identification of the status and educational circumstances of students facing academic difficulties and allow the collected information to be linked among elementary, middle, and high schools, ensuring continuity of learning for these students and enabling systematic management. In the future, the Ministry of Education plans to conduct related policy research and establish an Information Strategy Plan (ISP).

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated, “Through the amendment of the enforcement decree, we will strengthen customized support for students struggling academically at schools, ensuring equal educational opportunities. This will also contribute to the restoration of school education capacity by protecting teachers’ legitimate educational activities and students’ right to learn.”