The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development has arrived at an agreement with teachers' and parents' groups, deciding there will be a quick resolution to the situation with "ineligible teachers." It is welcome news when parties in conflict over the system of teacher evaluation arrive at something of an agreement. We hope it becomes an opportunity for government, teachers, and parents to combine their strength to improve the quality of education.
No one is going to oppose the suggestion that there needs to be action taken regarding unqualified teachers. The government, teachers' organization such as Jeon Gyo Jo, and parents' groups have persistently pressed the issue. The controversy has continued almost entirely because teach party lacks trust for the other. Teachers have suspected that the government's' plans are ultimately going to be about restructuring, and many in government and elsewhere have seen teachers' opposition as a rejection of evaluation. It is a step towards restoring trust when all the parties concerned have agreed to change the evaluation program to a school education improvement program.
There remain many problems, however. The education ministry says unqualified teachers are those who fabricate academic performance or take bribes, or who have mental or physical illness that makes it hard to carry out regular duties, but there were problems in making that more detailed. How precisely to deal with such teachers is not so simple. Highly problematic teachers have to be removed from their positions, but removing teachers for single acts of irregularity is not a fix-all solution.
Also of importance will be doing something about the structure of education that produces unqualified teachers. First will be revising the Private School Law in a way that promotes reform at private schools, which are hotbeds of corruption. If there is not a framework in place that allows teaches and parents to freely speak up about unqualified teachers, the program to deal with them will end up being too little too late.
The Hankyoreh, 27 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Systematic Approach Needed for “Ineligible Teachers” |
