Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to Provide Psychological Counseling Support for School Non-Regular Workers Starting This Year

Education Public Officials Over 15,000 Targeted
Conducted Following Teachers and Local Public Officials
Including Educational Administrators and Culinary Staff

In a situation where human rights violations against teachers, such as complaints from parents, have emerged, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will provide psychological counseling support to approximately 15,500 educational public service workers in the second half of this year. This is the first time psychological counseling support is being extended to non-regular workers within schools, following teachers and general public officials.

On the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that through the "Maeumbo-deum Psychological Counseling Program," it will offer counseling support to educational public service workers experiencing psychological difficulties related to job conflicts, interpersonal relationships, depression, and more. This program is a system promoted in cooperation with professional counseling agencies to promote the psychological stability of workers and foster a highly satisfactory organizational culture.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has previously operated psychological counseling support for teachers through the Education Activity Protection Center and psychological counseling programs for local public officials. Although educational public service workers have supported various educational activities on the front lines alongside teachers and local public officials, they have found it difficult to receive help for issues such as conflicts arising during work, job stress, emotional problems, and interpersonal relationships.

All staff members who are not teachers or public officials at the Ministry of Education, education offices, and each school are included as educational public service workers. This refers to non-regular public officials with guaranteed status, such as kitchen assistants, elementary school care workers, and special education assistants.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "The Maeumbo-deum Psychological Counseling Program will be conducted considering the occupational characteristics of educational public service workers, who operate in various job types and working conditions," and added, "It is expected to provide practical help for the psychological counseling of educational public service workers."

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "We will continue to strive to improve working conditions so that educational public service workers, who play a key role in education, can work without being marginalized and with a sense of belonging and pride."

Those wishing to participate in the program can apply directly to counseling agencies, and detailed information such as application methods can be found on the dedicated counseling website. Counseling is primarily conducted face-to-face during desired hours from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., but can also be conducted remotely via phone or email.