By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

Every elementary, middle and high school teacher will be evaluated in 18 criteria, such as attitude toward teaching and guiding students, by their colleagues, students and parents, at least once a year from the spring semester.

The result of the assessments is not related to personnel affairs or wages, but those who are rated as inadequate will have to complete a separate training course.

The Ministry of Education Science and Technology unveiled the plan while discussing details of the new program Friday with a consultative committee.

Education Minister Ahn Byung-man said, "Introducing the system cannot be postponed any longer and it will be fully implemented this year for all schools nationwide."

The committee consists of 16 educational experts, including education workers as well as parents' groups, and is headed by former Minister of Education Lee Don-hee.

Teachers who receive good scores in the evaluation will receive incentives such as a sabbatical year, while underperformers will have to attend mandatory training courses.

The results will be made public on each school's Web site, and local education offices will take the results into account when they assess schools.

The bill to revise elementary and secondary education, which will legally back the implementation of the evaluations, has not been passed by the National Assembly yet, but the ministry said it would formulate educational rules by next month to start the evaluations.

The progressive Korea Teachers and Education Worker's Union (KTU) opposes the plan.

"Currently, the educational workers' association and the political parties are negotiating the revision of the education act at a consultative body," a KTU official said. "The education ministry is denying the ongoing talks by enforcing the evaluation system."

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr