Concerns Over Ambiguous Standards
for Accident Prevention and Safety Measures
The Gyeongnam branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) has called for the establishment of specific enforcement ordinances ahead of the implementation of the amended 'School Safety Act' this month.
On June 16, the Gyeongnam branch of the KTU held a press conference in the briefing room of the Gyeongnam Office of Education, asserting that concrete and effective enforcement ordinances are necessary regarding the amendment to the 'Act on Prevention and Compensation of School Safety Accidents' scheduled to take effect on June 21.
The amendment to the School Safety Act includes the following provisions: ▲ If principals and school staff fulfill their obligations to prevent school safety accidents and take safety measures for students, they are exempt from civil and criminal liability for school safety accidents; ▲ The superintendent of education is required to provide administrative and financial support necessary for the placement of auxiliary personnel.
Kim Jisung, head of the Gyeongnam branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, is condemning the amendment to the School Safety Act and the amendment to the Gyeongnam Office of Education's school safety-related ordinance. Photo by Lee Seryung
The branch pointed out, "Although the amendment aims to clarify by law the obligation to take safety measures for the prevention of school safety accidents and to strengthen the superintendent's responsibilities, there are still no specific enforcement ordinances just days before implementation."
They further stated, "If safety standards and preventive measures are not specified, students will be exposed to greater risks, and it will be impossible to prevent or respond to the various risk factors that arise in actual educational activities." They also expressed concern that "the exemption provisions for school staff will lead to confusion and various legal disputes."
They also mentioned the amendment to the school safety-related ordinance currently being promoted by the Gyeongnam Office of Education.
The branch argued, "The ordinance amendment being promoted by the provincial office of education is shifting the burden of safety responsibility onto principals and teachers, rather than the superintendent," and insisted, "The ordinance should stipulate that the responsibility for supporting auxiliary personnel lies with the superintendent, in line with the purpose of the School Safety Act."
Additionally, they requested, "The superintendent should recommend the suspension of all field trips at schools in the province until the enforcement ordinance and the auxiliary personnel placement system are established," and "The ordinance should be prepared in communication with the school sites."
Major Amendments to the Act on Prevention and Compensation of School Safety Accidents (School Safety Act). Photo by Se Ryeong Lee
Kim Jisung, head of the branch, remarked, "There have been six months until the amended School Safety Act takes effect, but with less than a week left, the specific obligations of principals and staff regarding the prevention of school safety accidents and safety measures have still not been defined." He criticized, "There may not have been a president, but wasn't there a Minister of Education and a Ministry of Education all this time?"
He appealed, "Because there are still no specific enforcement ordinances or support measures from the Office of Education, we are forced to proceed with field trips amid anxiety and concern, with the responsible teacher having to shoulder all the burden. Do not force sacrifice and responsibility on teachers who have overseen field trips for decades without any legal safety measures or support from the Office of Education."
On this day, the provincial Office of Education stated, "We plan to revise the relevant ordinance to specify the superintendent's responsibilities, including provisions to add administrative and financial support measures necessary for the placement of auxiliary personnel."
Regarding auxiliary personnel, the office explained, "We have formed a pool and are currently operating about 150 safety personnel, and for newly introduced other auxiliary personnel, we will form pools at each regional education support office and then review the auxiliary personnel placement system."
They added, "We will conduct a demand survey for the second semester regarding the cost of other auxiliary personnel for field trips and plan to allocate approximately 220 million won in the supplementary budget to provide support."
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