 Kim Ung-gweon, vice education, science and technology minister, announces a package of measures to enhance teachers’ rights at the Central Government Complex in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap |
Students who use violence against teachers will have to receive psychological therapy and counseling together with their parents.
In addition, headmasters who attempt to cover up cases of assault and harassment against teachers will be subject to harsh punishment.
These were included in a package of measures the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology unveiled Tuesday to protect educators from violent pupils and promote their rights.
The ministry said it is seeking a revision of related laws so that the measures will take effect this year.
Heads of schools must report assault cases to educational offices immediately after they occur or they will be investigated.
Teachers’ groups have claimed a large number of teachers are assaulted in classrooms each year, but headmasters are reluctant to address the issue out of concern that such cases may tarnish the school’s image.
Parents who hit or swear at teachers in front of students will be punished too. The ministry plans to instruct regional education offices to set up committees on protecting teachers’ rights. They will discuss punitive measures against violent students and parents, as well as school heads who neglect their duty.
Teachers who are assaulted by pupils or parents will be given the chance to transfer to another school of their choice.
The measures reflect concerns that teachers are increasingly having a hard time conducting classes and controlling unruly students.
According to the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Association (KFTA), many educators fear they may be assaulted by their pupils if they take cell phones away or scold them for disorderly behavior during class.
“We receive complaints from elementary and secondary school teachers almost every day that they face hardship in guiding students and conducting lessons. Some say they are verbally abused by pupils or even physically assaulted by them,” a KFTA official said. “It’s true that a growing number of teachers are challenged by misbehaving students in class.”
In one case, a female teacher in her 20s was attacked by the parent of one of her students at a middle school in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, on Aug. 17. The assault took place while the parent was protesting the teacher’s treatment of his son.
Teachers’ groups have complained that it became more difficult for teachers to handle misbehaving students since regional educational offices headed by liberal superintendents enacted ordinances to improve students’ rights earlier this year.
Under the ordinance, corporal punishment by teachers was prohibited. It also gives students freedom to choose their own hairstyle and clothing.
