Second Controversy between Education Ministry and NTEWU

Ministry of Education had a meeting for countermeasure chaired by vice-minister Seo Beom-seok in the morning of May 13th. And they decided to operate ‘comprehensive countermeasure group’ designating the vice-minister as a director in order to minimize the disorder in education fields.

‘Comprehensive countermeasure group’ is composed of 4 teams with 26 personnel in total; general assistance team, college entrance examination assistance team, education field assistance team, and technical support team. They will prepare and execute an impending school calendar of until the time of next February and the measures that minimize the disorder in education fields such as an occasional solicitation for entering University.

Ministry of Education also held urgent meetings in the afternoon of that day such as ‘the meeting with chiefs of information from 16 education offices in cities and provinces’ and ‘the round-table conference with persons in charge for high school students` going to University.’ In the meetings, they discussed the measures for educational matters of elementary, middle and high school based on the decision of National Human Rights Commission, and the measures for data of an occasional selection for the first semester entrance to college. They are planning to have a conference with all the nationwide deputy superintendent of educational affairs on May 16.

Education Ministry will hold the meeting on May 20 with ‘educational administration information committee,’ which consists of teacher group, parents group, and specialist on education. And they will make a final decision after reviewing the recommendations from National Human Rights Commission whether it would affect to the schedule of the college entrance examination, the school curriculum and appropriateness in operation of curriculum system, etc.

Ministry of Education has strongly encouraged so far the National Teachers and Educational Workers` Union (NTEWU), the National Parents Association for Real Education and Progressive Network to participate in the committee. However, the National Teachers and Educational Workers Union objected the proposal saying, “We can not participate in the committee if the recommendations of National Human Rights Commission would not be accepted.” Therefore, it seemed to have a difficulty for the resolution of the NEIS.