"Two-Hour One-Way Commute Raises Concerns Over Infringement of Right to Education"
"Need to Ease Disciplinary Measures... Alternative Solutions Should Be Considered"
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea has determined that the measure prohibiting a student who left the dormitory without permission from re-entering for one year is excessive. As this could potentially infringe on the student's right to education, the commission recommended that the school revise its regulations.
On the 26th, the Gwangju Office of the National Human Rights Commission announced after reviewing a petition filed by a third-year high school student in Jeollanam-do, “While the necessity of expulsion is acknowledged since unauthorized outings after bed checks make it difficult to respond to nighttime incidents, we also considered that a long-term expulsion could negatively affect the student’s university entrance prospects, especially given the student’s two-hour one-way commute by bus.”
The commission stated, “Measures that restrict students’ rights should be minimized,” and pointed out, “Although the school explained that it had shortened the expulsion period from 12 months to 6 months, it failed to provide a reasonable justification for this duration.”
The school responded, “The decision for expulsion was made through the dormitory management committee,” adding, “We adjusted the timing to after the midterm exams and shortened the previous 12-month expulsion rule to 6 months.”
However, the commission recommended, “Uniform long-term expulsion rules violate the principle of minimizing harm,” and advised, “The school should consider alternative measures such as assigning community service or implementing a 1- to 3-month expulsion instead of only expulsion.”
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