By Na Jeong-ju
The education ministry and Seoul’s education office are expected to clash again over the latter’s plan to designate a human rights officer empowered to investigate possible rights violations against students at schools in the capital.
The plan is a follow-up measure to a controversial ordinance on enhancing students’ human rights, which took effect early this year. The ministry filed a petition with the Supreme Court to invalidate the ordinance, claiming that it could make it more difficult for teachers to deal with unruly pupils.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said it will create the position of human rights officer in September if the Seoul City Council approves the plan. It is widely expected that the council, controlled by the main opposition Democratic United Party, will give it the nod.
“The plan will be put to a vote at the council’s plenary session scheduled for next month,” an SMOE spokesman said.
The officer, if named, will conduct investigations into cases of possible rights violations at primary and secondary schools in Seoul based on petitions from students and parents. He or she can demand that the SMOE chief take disciplinary measures against teachers.
The officer, who will have a two-year term, can also demand financial support from the education office for investigations, research, counseling and other activities.
The ordinance is one of SMOE chief Kwak No-hyun’s signature programs. It prohibits corporal punishment by teachers and discrimination against homosexual and pregnant students. It also allows students to hold assemblies and rallies at their schools and gives them freedom to choose their own hairstyle and clothing.
The office’s plan is expected to draw a backlash from teachers’ groups as well as the education ministry. They have claimed that such measures are “too radical” and lack social consensus.
“It’s not understandable that Kwak is moving to create such a position when the Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of the ordinance,” a ministry official said. “We will take appropriate measures to prevent possible disturbances at schools and protect the rights of teachers.”
Liberal groups welcomed the SMOE’s plan, saying it will help address human rights violations at schools. However, the Korean Federation of Teachers Associations (KFTA) said teachers’ authority has been challenged further.
“A growing number of teachers are challenged by misbehaving students in classrooms, but the education office is only paying attention to improving students’ rights,” said Kim Dong-seok, a KFTA official.
Kwak, a liberal, was given a one-year jail sentence by an appeals court in April on charges of bribing a rival candidate in the election for the top educator post in 2010.
Kwak will be stripped of the post if the Supreme Court upholds the verdict because any civil servant or elected official is removed from office if fined more than 1 million won or given a jail sentence. The date of sentencing by the highest court on the bribery case has not been set yet.