Gwangju Office of Education Pushes for Career Change of Elementary Teachers to Counseling Roles, Facing Union Backlash

Union: "Can Unverified Teachers Be Entrusted with Counseling?"
"A Decision That Disregards the Status and Role of Professional Counseling Teachers"
Education Office: "Implementing a System That Utilizes Field Experience"

As the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education pushes forward with a plan to appoint current elementary school teachers as professional counseling teachers, both the teachers' union and prospective professional counseling teachers are protesting, calling it an "administratively convenient measure that undermines counseling expertise." Critics argue that selecting counseling teachers based on homeroom teaching experience and other criteria, without a professional vetting process, "disregards the status and role of professional counseling teachers."

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education on November 12, the office recently sent an official notice titled "Plan for Appointment of Professional Counseling Teachers by Career Change" to elementary schools within its jurisdiction. The candidates are current elementary teachers who hold a master's degree in counseling or child psychology and have at least three years of teaching experience. Until now, the office has selected professional counseling teachers through a recruitment exam, but for the first time this year, it has introduced a career change system.

In response to this policy, the Gwangju Teachers' Union strongly objected, stating, "Counseling should be handled by verified professionals." The union argued, "The career change appointment undermines the status and role of professional counseling teachers and should be withdrawn." They further criticized the first-stage selection criteria-such as research on life education, consulting, participation in research groups, completion of training, and homeroom experience-saying, "This reveals a narrow perception that views counseling merely as a disciplinary function within the classroom." The union also pointed out, "It is illogical to try to select qualified candidates when there are no standards for evaluating the core competencies of professional counseling teachers," adding, "This is essentially selecting counseling teachers in the same way as appointing student affairs department heads."

The union particularly emphasized that the role of professional counseling teachers should not be reduced to simple empathy and listening. "Professional counseling teachers are experts who provide specialized counseling and healing for students in crisis and those at high risk for mental health issues, based on psychological knowledge," they stated, adding, "Verified expertise and extensive experience are essential." They continued, "At a time when the youth suicide rate is rising, the education office is prioritizing administrative convenience to address teacher surplus," and added, "This move runs counter to the current trend, especially with the Student-Centered Integrated Support Act set to take effect soon."

In response, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "We increased the number of newly hired professional counseling teachers from two last year to four this year, so we are not reducing new appointments." The office also stated, "A strength of this system is that current teachers' empathy and experience can be utilized in counseling," and clarified, "Not all teachers lacking qualifications will be appointed; depending on the review results, some may not be selected."