[Seoicho 1st Anniversary] Ministry of Education "Increase in Parental Infringement Measures on Teachers This Year"

1364 Meetings of the Teacher Rights Protection Committee Held Over 3 Months
More Than Double the Rate of Measures Against Guardians
Non-Prosecution Rate After 'Superintendent Opinion Submission' Up 17.9%
Increased Use of Education Activity Protection Center and Insurance Support

The Ministry of Education explained that responses to cases of infringement on educational activities have been strengthened following the revision of the 'Five Laws for the Protection of Teachers' Rights,' which enhances the prevention of violations of teachers' rights. In particular, the rate of measures taken against guardians infringing on educational activities has more than doubled, and the rate of non-prosecution in child abuse reports has increased.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th, the Ministry of Education announced that since the revision of the Five Laws for the Protection of Teachers' Rights (Teacher Status Act, Framework Act on Education, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Early Childhood Education Act, Child Abuse Punishment Act) last August, the Teacher Rights Protection Committee has been transferred from schools to education support offices, thereby strengthening responses to infringements on educational activities. According to the Ministry, about 1,364 committee meetings were held over approximately three months after the transfer of the Teacher Rights Protection Committee.

By type of infringement, the cases were in the order of ▲insult and defamation (372 cases, 27.3%) ▲obstruction of educational activities (357 cases, 26.2%) ▲injury and assault (203 cases, 14.9%) ▲others (120 cases, 8.8%). Among these, 89.3% (1,218 cases) were infringements by students, and 10.7% (146 cases) were infringements by parents.

With the legalization of measures against guardians infringing on educational activities, the rate of 'no action' decreased from 49% to about 10% compared to last year. The Ministry of Education also explained that the rate of measures taken against guardians infringing on educational activities more than doubled. The number of complaints and accusations filed by the competent authorities against guardians infringing on educational activities also increased, with 4 cases in 2022, 11 cases in 2023, and 12 cases from January to June 2024.

In particular, during the past nine months since the implementation of the system for submitting opinions by superintendents, out of 553 child abuse reports against teachers, opinions were submitted that 384 cases (70%) were 'justifiable disciplinary guidance,' and the non-prosecution rate increased by 17.9% compared to before the system was introduced. Conversely, the rate of cases processed as 'child protection incidents' decreased by 49.2%.

The number of users of the Educational Activity Protection Center, which provides teachers with counseling, psychological treatment, and legal support, has also increased. Currently, there are a total of 32 Educational Activity Protection Centers, and from March to June this year, 79,901 people used the service. This is 2.8 times the average monthly number of users last year.

Following the revision of the Teacher Status Act, from January this year, teacher liability insurance has become available to all teachers nationwide. Accordingly, the number of services provided increased from 32 cases in 2022 to 239 cases this year. The total support amount is approximately 267.6 million KRW.

The Ministry of Education explained that since last September, school complaint response teams have been formed at each school, establishing a system to respond to complaints at the institutional level. According to the Ministry's data as of June 30 this year, in 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education, the following were prepared regarding school complaint responses: ▲school complaint response teams (99.8%, 14,115 schools) ▲call recording phones (95.8%, 13,545 schools) ▲call connection tones (90.5%, 12,788 schools) ▲complaint consultation rooms (90.7%, 12,818 schools) ▲education office integrated complaint teams (100%, 196 offices).