Half of 155 Elementary Schools in Gwangju Suspend Off-Campus Experiential Learning Activities

KTU Urges Immediate Institutional Reform
Calls for Systemic Changes to Relieve Teachers' Burdens

Concerns are growing over the current system that places the responsibility for accidents occurring during field trips solely on individual teachers. It has been revealed that more than half of elementary schools in Gwangju have postponed or canceled outdoor field trips since June.

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) stated on the 7th, "Since the first trial verdict was handed down to a teacher involved in an accident during a field trip in Gangwon Province last February, teachers' concerns about safety have intensified."

More than half of the 155 elementary schools in the Gwangju area conducted experiential learning only within the school or postponed outdoor activities. Provided by the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU).

According to the results obtained by the Gwangju branch of the KTU through information disclosure requests and on-site surveys, 89 out of 155 elementary schools (57%) in Gwangju have decided to postpone field trips or suspend outdoor activities after June 21. Among them, 25 schools have completely canceled overnight field trips such as retreats or school excursions.

In order to ease teachers' burdens, the Gwangju Office of Education has allowed existing field trip budgets to be used for "on-site field trips" from March to June. However, the KTU pointed out, "As long as the current legal and institutional structure places unlimited responsibility on teachers for accidents during field trips, schools inevitably become more cautious."

The Gwangju branch of the KTU emphasized that field trips are an important part of students' educational growth, but the current system imposes excessive legal and psychological burdens on teachers, calling for urgent institutional reform. They urged the extension of the field trip budget usage period from June to the end of this year, the provision of safety personnel and budget support by the Office of Education for outdoor field trips, and the revision of the "Gwangju Metropolitan City School Field Trip Student Safety Support Ordinance" to reflect the opinions of schools, parents, and students.

A branch official stated, "Field trips are essential learning experiences for children, but if all responsibility continues to fall on individual teachers, the essence of education will inevitably be undermined. There must be institutional measures in place so that teachers, students, and guardians can participate in field trips with peace of mind."