Incheon Office of Education to Maintain 'School Members Human Rights Ordinance'... "Includes Measures to Protect Teachers' Rights"

Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education has announced its position to maintain the 'Ordinance on the Promotion of Human Rights for School Members,' which had been subject to abolition debates following the extreme choice incident involving a teacher at Seoul Seoi Elementary School.

On the 21st, Cho Sun-mi, Director of the Global Citizenship Education Division at the Incheon Office of Education, stated at a press briefing, "Unlike student human rights ordinances in other regions, the Incheon Office of Education's ordinance guarantees the rights of teachers and guardians as well," adding, "It is necessary to maintain this ordinance to foster a school culture where all educational members show mutual consideration and respect."

Previously, since forming an ordinance establishment task force in 2019, the Office of Education completed a draft ordinance on the promotion of human rights for school members consisting of 36 articles after two years of various opinion collections and review processes. The ordinance contains provisions to guarantee and promote the human rights of students, teachers, guardians, and other school members.

In particular, regarding the protection of teachers' human rights, the ordinance stipulates that school members must not interfere with teachers' legitimate educational activities to assert their rights, and guardians needing counseling related to educational activities should use the teachers' official contact information and receive counseling during working hours at designated locations.

Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education building view [Photo by Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education]

Director Cho said, "The parts that teachers commonly desire are guaranteed in the ordinance," and added, "If conflicts arise between higher laws and the ordinance following the Ministry of Education's comprehensive policy announcement, partial amendments will be considered." However, when asked about additional measures to protect teachers' rights beyond the current ordinance, he avoided a direct answer, stating, "We will prepare a comprehensive plan within this month reflecting current issues based on teachers' opinions."

Following the tragic incident involving the Seoi Elementary School teacher, the Incheon Office of Education collected opinions from frontline teachers in the educational field, receiving about 1,500 cases, which are currently being analyzed.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and Gyeonggi-do Office of Education, which are implementing student human rights ordinances, are pushing for amendments to strengthen students' responsibilities and duties within the student human rights ordinances.