An investigation has found a causal relationship between the death of a special education teacher at an elementary school in Incheon last year and excessive work duties.
According to the final report on the investigation into the special education teacher's death, a psychological autopsy of Teacher A, who died in October last year, concluded that "no stress factors outside of work duties were identified" by experts.
The report stated, "Based on the evidence, the difficulties arising from work duties appear to be the main cause of Teacher A's death, and it is difficult to identify any other cause." It also included the opinion that "as mental fatigue and burnout accumulated, Teacher A recognized that it would be difficult to realize the expansion of special classes or the recruitment of additional special education teachers, which she had hoped for. This likely intensified her feelings of frustration, resignation, and helplessness."
The investigation committee determined that Teacher A was the only special education teacher responsible for severely disabled students in an overcrowded class that exceeded the legal limit, and that she was burdened with excessive teaching hours and administrative work. The committee also concluded that the lack of practical support from the education authorities, such as expanding classes or assigning additional teachers, led to the deterioration of her physical health and increased psychological stress, which contributed to her death.
Article 27 of the Special Education Act stipulates that the class size for one special education class in elementary school is six students, and if this number is exceeded, two or more classes must be established. However, Teacher A was assigned eight students, and when including students in the 'full inclusion' special education program, which required parental counseling, she was responsible for a total of 12 students.
During the 31 weeks Teacher A worked last year, she taught more than 25 hours per week on 21 occasions (67.5%). While her individualized education plan specified 21 teaching hours per week, she exceeded this number in most weeks except for certain periods that included public holidays or school vacations.
The investigation committee pointed out that although the education authorities hired volunteers as a support measure to address overcrowded classes, Teacher A was tasked with interviewing and managing the attendance of these volunteers, which in turn increased her workload. One month before her death, Teacher A injured her back while supervising a student, but was unable to take sick leave and instead received temporary treatment at the school health office.
The investigation committee explained that Teacher A had requested additional temporary contract teachers from the education authorities, but was repeatedly told, "Your school does not qualify for support as the class size does not exceed the nine-student threshold per class."
The committee stated, "It is believed that Teacher A took her own life due to excessive workload and illegal work orders in an unlawful overcrowded class environment. It is reasonable to conclude that there is a causal relationship between her death and her work duties."
Previously, on July 24, after adopting the investigation report, the committee recommended that Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Do Seonghun voluntarily resign and that Deputy Superintendent Lee Sangdon be dismissed.
A special education teacher at an elementary school in Incheon, who was responsible for an overcrowded special education class, died from overwork on October 24 last year.
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