Panel to Review Teacher Evaluation Bill
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
An education subcommittee, scheduled for Tuesday, is set to determine the fate of a teacher evaluation system that has been waiting for parliamentary approval for a year and a half.
As part of efforts to boost the quality of teaching at primary and secondary schools, the education authorities have sought to introduce the system of allowing students to take part in the evaluation of their teachers.
The bill to amend the education law for the introduction of teacher evaluation needs approval at a subcommittee of the National Assembly today. The passage of the amendment bill has been delayed due to fierce opposition from the progressive union of teachers.
The committee has yet to decide whether it will discuss the matter. The bill faces being cancelled if it is not put forward on the agenda at the committee in accordance with parliamentary procedures.
If parliamentary approval is obtained by the end of the month, the government will seek to implement the teacher evaluation system, beginning March, 2009.
It is uncertain whether the education committee will deal with the bill or not. If not, the government has to work on establishing the teacher assessment system with incoming legislature.
``The fate of the bill is uncertain for now. But we aim to have it passed at the current session of the National Assembly,'' an education ministry official said.
Most parents and students support the teacher evaluation system, but most teachers, led by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU), are strongly opposing the idea and have staged several rallies against the measure.
KTU says it is skeptical as to whether teachers can be evaluated with fair and reasonable yardsticks. They are also arguing that teacher evaluation by students could impair the dignity of teachers.