[Editorial] NTU to Start Protest by Leaving School Early

90,000 teachers who belong to National Teachers Union (NTU), decided to protest by leaving school early on 2nd April, objecting government`s privatization of power plants.

This protest is to join comprehensive strike that Korean confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), which is senior union of NTU, is carrying out with the regards to privatization of power plants.

Teachers plan to attend the strike by leaving school early after morning class

Parents who heard this news were furious.

They were uneasy as the damage for absence from class would be borne by students and whether educational sector is influenced by politics or not.

Apart from many reasons, which relationship does NTU have with privatization of power plants that makes them join the strike, I don`t understand.

I point out that this protest is wrong in two points.

Firstly it is an illegal group activity.

NTU, whose official work is to teach students, doesn`t have the right for group activity like strikes among three rights of labor, which is different from general labor unions.

While inaugurating NTU, government and teachers agreed on this admitting specialty in education.

However, this protest is only a name protest like leaving school early; however, it has no difference from the strike.

Metal labor unions that will participate in the joint protest with NTU have announced strike.

As their joint protest is of the same nature, protest of leaving school early of NTU is also a strike, therefore it is obviously illegal.

Secondly, it abandons the duties of teachers.

No one can understand teachers, to leave for the spot of labor protest which has nothing to do with them in the middle of a class leaving students.

Public education is becoming serious as education policy`s confusion is worsening. Therefore isn`t managing the classrooms the most urgent and important thing which teachers should do?

In addition, NTU presented that it will make students understand about power plant issue through lessons and joint classes.

Parents are worried, how and what they will make young students understand.