Gwangju Teachers' Union: "Administration Neglects Student and Staff Safety"
Metropolitan Office of Education: "Special Grant Funds Cannot Be Used for Other Purposes"
The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education has come under fire for conducting hotel training sessions for principals and vice principals, while postponing asbestos removal work at some schools due to budget shortages. Asbestos is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is directly linked to the safety of students and staff.
The Gwangju Teachers' Union criticized the office on September 24, stating, "The Metropolitan Office of Education is allocating budget for principal and vice principal training, while delaying essential safety construction," and called it "inconsistent financial management."
A banner displayed by the Gwangju Teachers' Union at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education Training Institute on the 23rd, reading "Postpone Asbestos Construction and Stop Luxurious Training for Principals and Vice Principals." Provided by Gwangju Teachers' Union
According to an official document released by the union, on July 3, the Metropolitan Office of Education notified 24 elementary and middle schools that "asbestos removal work scheduled for this winter break is not possible due to lack of budget" and added, "We will provide further guidance once a mid- to long-term plan is established."
However, on September 23 and 24, the office conducted hotel training sessions for kindergarten and elementary school principals. In addition to lectures and group discussions, the itinerary included visits to the Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival venue and the Sacheon Marine Cable Car. Starting September 24, secondary and special school principals will undergo the same training, and at the end of next month, vice principals from kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools will also participate in the same program.
The teachers' union pointed out, "Asbestos removal is a project directly related to the safety of students and staff and is an essential construction linked to the replacement of heating and cooling systems. It should take precedence over training." The union further claimed, "Last year, the student sports festival for students with disabilities was canceled due to budget shortages, yet a private school staff sports event was held with the help of an event company, which drew criticism but has not been improved."
The union urged, "The Metropolitan Office of Education should apologize to students, parents, and teachers, and scrap the training plan."
The Metropolitan Office of Education issued a statement explaining, "This training was funded by a special grant from the Ministry of Education, not from the office's own budget, and the funds cannot be reallocated for other projects." They also stated, "The service provider was selected through a lowest-bid process, and the cost was lower than the average for previous professional development programs."
The office added, "Teachers have also participated in this training since June, and it is scheduled to continue through the end of the year. The sessions are intended to discuss challenges in the field, such as protecting educational activities and supporting school budgets."
Regarding the asbestos removal work, the office explained, "The delay was unavoidable due to the national fiscal austerity policy during the 2025 budget planning process. We plan to include the project in the 2026 main budget and proceed with it gradually."
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