‘Names Tags on School Uniforms Violates Student Privacy’

The Human Rights Commission of Korea yesterday said the practice of requiring public school students to wear nametags on school uniforms could violate their civil rights.

The commission recommended that the Education, Science and Technology Ministry and municipal and provincial education boards guide and monitor schools on this matter.

In May, a civic rights group filed a complaint that six middle schools in Daegu force their students to wear nametags. The commission said it recommended that the schools tackle the dispute because requiring students to wear nametags on school uniforms and having their names shown in public limits their personal privacy.

Students welcomed the decision but many teachers opposed it, saying nametags are necessary for guiding students and maintaining the autonomy of their schools.

passion@donga.com