By Bahk Eun-ji
The government's plan to hire part-time teachers is drawing fierce criticism from students of teacher training colleges for elementary school educators.
The National Union of Education University (NUEU), the association of education universities across the nation, has decided to boycott classes on Friday, demanding that the Ministry of Education (MOE) drop its plan to hire part-time teachers.
Its decision came after nine out of 13 education universities nationwide voted for the boycott of classes.
The students of those universities will also hold rallies in Seoul, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla and Jeju provinces.
They claim that the government's plan would create more non-regular part-time teachers, who will lower the quality of education.
"The education ministry's main job is to promote the quality of teaching, but it is just pushing for the policy blatantly in order to boost the national employment rate," said Cho Ha-na, a leader of the NUEU, and also the president of student council of Busan National University of Education.
However, ministry officials say the policy is to give teachers more flexible working hours and help boost their job security.
"The policy will help teachers who can't take parental leave or sick leave maintain their careers," said Park Young-sook, a deputy manager at teacher's policy department of MOE.
Park said part-time teachers will be the same as other full-time, regular teachers, although they will be allowed to choose when to work.
However, the union leader said that part-time teachers will have difficulties building appropriate relationships with students and other teachers.
Education Minister Seo Nam-soo has said the ministry would carry out the policy by having existing teachers who want to convert their working hours to part-time in the initial stage.
It will decide other detailed measures after gathering opinions from experts, teachers and other stakeholders.
The government's plan to hire part-time teachers is drawing fierce criticism from students of teacher training colleges for elementary school educators.
The National Union of Education University (NUEU), the association of education universities across the nation, has decided to boycott classes on Friday, demanding that the Ministry of Education (MOE) drop its plan to hire part-time teachers.
Its decision came after nine out of 13 education universities nationwide voted for the boycott of classes.
The students of those universities will also hold rallies in Seoul, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla and Jeju provinces.
They claim that the government's plan would create more non-regular part-time teachers, who will lower the quality of education.
"The education ministry's main job is to promote the quality of teaching, but it is just pushing for the policy blatantly in order to boost the national employment rate," said Cho Ha-na, a leader of the NUEU, and also the president of student council of Busan National University of Education.
However, ministry officials say the policy is to give teachers more flexible working hours and help boost their job security.
"The policy will help teachers who can't take parental leave or sick leave maintain their careers," said Park Young-sook, a deputy manager at teacher's policy department of MOE.
Park said part-time teachers will be the same as other full-time, regular teachers, although they will be allowed to choose when to work.
However, the union leader said that part-time teachers will have difficulties building appropriate relationships with students and other teachers.
Education Minister Seo Nam-soo has said the ministry would carry out the policy by having existing teachers who want to convert their working hours to part-time in the initial stage.
It will decide other detailed measures after gathering opinions from experts, teachers and other stakeholders.
