Education Authorities Demand Principal Replacement
"Sent Teacher to Buy a Lighter"
A teacher and parents at an elementary school in Gyeonggi Province have decided to request the education authorities to replace the principal due to frequent sick leaves and other reasons.
According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education on the 20th, the School Operation Committee (Hakunwi), consisting of elementary school teacher A and parents, held a meeting on the 18th with the agenda of revoking the principal's appointment through an open recruitment process.
The agenda of the meeting concerned Principal B's job performance. A school official stated, "The Hakunwi judged that the principal caused disruptions to school operations due to frequent sick leaves and unfounded business trips, and abused power by making teachers run personal errands, concluding that there are clear and objective reasons that make it impossible for him to continue his duties."
It is known that B took more than 30 days of sick leave each year from 2021, the year following his appointment, until last year, citing hospital treatments and other reasons.
In addition, he reportedly abused power by ordering teachers to buy lighters and using the break room for cafeteria workers as a personal residence.
Parents also recognized issues with the principal and participated in a petition demanding his replacement.
Principal B has been serving at the school since September 2020, having been appointed through the principal open recruitment system.
The principal open recruitment system has been in place since 2007 to diversify the methods of appointing principals and to select competent personnel desired by school members. It targets holders of teaching certificates or teachers with more than 15 years of experience in elementary and secondary schools.
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