“Refunds Even Without Fault” ... Gyeongnam After-School Instructors Urge Correction of Refund Policy

After-school instructors in the Gyeongnam region have urged the Gyeongnam Office of Education to come up with countermeasures, claiming that they are being unfairly asked to refund their teaching fees at schools.

The Gyeongnam branch of the National School Irregular Workers’ Union, under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation, held a press conference at the Gyeongnam Office of Education briefing room on the 30th.

The Gyeongnam branch stated, "Holidays and public holidays have become days for after-school instructors to refund their fees," and appealed, "Even if there is a typhoon, or if a student is absent due to a family trip or illness, or misses class for a school event or field trip, the instructor has to refund all the tuition fees."

They added, "Instructors are being forced to refund their fees due to indiscriminate requests for refunds, even when the reason is not their fault. Even if after-school instructors prepare for regular classes, if classes are canceled due to school events, field trips, holidays, or vacations, there is no compensation for the lost tuition fees."

They also said, "Even when the school is not entirely closed and the instructor conducts the class, if a particular student is absent due to a school event, field trip, or personal reason, the instructor has to bear the entire loss unconditionally."

The Education Workers' Union Gyeongnam Branch is urging a revision of the refund policy for after-school instructors' class fees.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Furthermore, the Gyeongnam branch claimed that the Gyeongnam Office of Education unilaterally revised the after-school program operation guidelines in 2021, specifying that losses caused by force majeure such as typhoons, natural disasters, or social disasters are not the responsibility of any contracting party, and yet shifted the refund obligation onto the instructors.

The branch criticized, "The current after-school refund policy is being applied without any consideration for the lives and time of instructors. Unreasonable and indiscriminate refunds further lower the teaching fees, undermining not only professional pride but also human dignity."

They continued, "If this issue is not resolved, experienced and motivated after-school instructors will gradually leave, eventually leading to a decline in the quality of after-school classes. The Gyeongnam Office of Education must revise the regulations to strictly prohibit refunds."

In response, the provincial Office of Education explained, "After-school programs are non-regular classes provided based on the needs of students and parents and are operated on a beneficiary-pays basis. It is unreasonable for parents to demand payment of instructor fees when classes have not been held."

They further argued, "Only in 2019 and 2020, for monthly contracts, refunds were not required if the instructor was not at fault. For instructors on an hourly contract, teaching fees have always been calculated and paid according to the actual number of hours taught each month, as is currently the case."

They explained, "During collective bargaining, for monthly contracts where instructor fees are paid each month, the principle is to provide make-up classes if classes are canceled due to force majeure or reasons not attributable to the instructor. If the school cannot provide opportunities for make-up classes due to its circumstances, it is proposed that refunds should not be made."

An official from the provincial Office of Education said, "The after-school class refund policy is operated similarly nationwide based on the Ministry of Education guidelines. We plan to discuss the instructors' demands for countermeasures through the working-level negotiation committee."