Ulsan Office of Education Implements Comprehensive Measures for 'Creating Safe Schools'

Expansion of Psychological Counseling and Treatment Support for Teachers, Strengthened Management of Sick Leave and Return-to-Work
Enhanced Safety for Neulbom School Students Returning Home and Upgraded Safety Devices in After-School Care Classrooms

From now on, 1st and 2nd grade elementary school students participating in Neulbom School will be subject to the principle of "face-to-face handover and accompanying return home."

The school plans to directly hand over students to guardians or adult representatives designated in advance by the guardians after verification, and will only allow students to return home independently with the guardian's consent.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Cheon Chang-su) is implementing a comprehensive school safety enhancement plan related to the death incident of an elementary student in Daejeon.

Previously, the Ulsan Office of Education formed a School Safety Countermeasures Team led by Deputy Superintendent Yeom Gi-seong and prepared measures such as psychological support for teachers and strengthening safety in Neulbom classrooms for elementary students.

They will promote practical support measures in four major areas: strengthening management of teachers on sick leave, expanding psychological counseling and treatment support, and enhancing safety for students returning home from Neulbom School.

First, regarding the management of teachers on sick leave, the Sick Leave Committee and the Teacher Illness Review Committee will be reintroduced to each school to systematically manage leave and return-to-work matters, and efforts will be intensified to verify reasons for sick leave among educational officials and assess the actual situation.

Consultations (consulting) for vice principals will be held twice a year to increase the responsibility of schools in managing leave and return-to-work, and psychological and emotional support will be provided in connection with the Education Activity Protection Center for teachers who wish to receive it upon returning to work.

Professional counselors stationed at the Education Activity Protection Center and ten external professional counseling agencies will also assist in the psychological recovery of teachers. In particular, group counseling, meditation, yoga, and other "mindfulness programs" will be operated for returning teachers to help stabilize their mental health.

Safety measures for returning home from Neulbom School will also be strengthened. At least two Neulbom support staff will be assigned within the school until the last student returns home, and volunteer personnel such as retired public officials will be utilized to support students' safe return home.

Safety devices in after-school care classrooms will be further reinforced. Safety equipment such as video phones, door open/close devices, emergency bells, door locks, and hallway surveillance cameras (CCTV) in selective after-school care classrooms and gap Neulbom classrooms will be inspected, and additional funding will be secured and installation supported for schools in need.

Additionally, notification services providing real-time information on students' commuting to and from school to guardians will be expanded, and cooperation with the police will be strengthened to increase patrols around schools from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

An official from the Ulsan Office of Education stated, "We will continue to do our best to create an educational environment where teachers, students, and parents can all feel safe."

Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education.