Gwangju Office of Education Collects Opinions from Teachers' Associations and Unions on Administrative Integration

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education held the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Promotion Education Family Meeting" on the 14th at the main conference room of the Office of Education. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education held a meeting to hear the voices of the education community regarding the promotion of administrative integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam.

On the 14th, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education hosted the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Promotion Education Family Meeting" at the main conference room of the Office of Education, gathering opinions from teachers' associations and unions related to educational integration.

This meeting was organized as a follow-up to the "Gwangju-Jeonnam Administrative Integration Joint Declaration" announced by the superintendents of education of Gwangju and Jeonnam on January 12. The goal was to collect on-site opinions from education stakeholders to ensure they are not excluded during the administrative integration process and to reflect these opinions in policy.

The meeting was attended by Superintendent Lee Jeongseon, as well as representatives from 10 groups, including the Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, the Gwangju Teachers Union, the Gwangju Teachers' Association, the Public Officials Union, the National Education Workers' Union, and the Gwangju Practical Education Teachers' Association. They shared updates on the progress of administrative and educational integration between Gwangju and Jeonnam.

In addition, the organizations presented their opinions on educational issues expected to arise during the integration process.

The group representatives called for measures to secure the independence of educational administration after the administrative integration, and raised focused questions about inter-regional personnel exchanges, staff treatment, and fairness in the allocation of the education budget.

They expressed concerns that educational autonomy could be weakened during the administrative integration process, emphasizing the need for legal and institutional measures to prevent this and to ensure that education is not marginalized.

Superintendent Lee Jeongseon stated, "We will do our best to ensure that opinions on personnel, administration, and budget are genuinely reflected in the administrative integration process. We will continue a democratic deliberation process that communicates continuously with the education field, rather than pursuing integration unilaterally."