KTU Gwangju Branch: "Pushing for Elite Schools Through Administrative Integration Is a Betrayal of Public Education"

The Gwangju branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (hereinafter referred to as the Gwangju branch of KTU) has expressed regret and called for a halt regarding the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Integration’s discussion of transferring the authority to establish autonomous private and special-purpose high schools.

On January 21, the Gwangju branch of KTU released a press statement saying, "The Democratic Party is completely misunderstanding the solution for balanced regional development," and added, "True balanced development must begin with strengthening the public nature of education. Establishing a small number of elite schools for certain social classes does not revitalize local communities; rather, it devastates neighboring schools, increases private education expenses, and tightens the lives of citizens."

They further stated, "The benefits of administrative integration should be returned to all of the approximately 1,100 public schools in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province. Some urban areas are suffering from overcrowded classes, while rural and small schools are facing the risk of closure. Ignoring this educational reality and pouring huge budgets into attracting elite schools is nothing short of abandoning public education and deceiving the public."

Additionally, they emphasized, "The integration budget must be used not for the authority to attract elite schools, but for resolving overcrowded classes in urban areas and supporting the survival of small rural schools. The goal of the special law is to realize the public nature of education, not to deepen polarization. The essence of educational autonomy is not to give superintendents the authority to freely establish elite schools, but to support the approximately 1,100 schools so that they can thrive according to the characteristics of their regions."