School principals in South Korea are now legally empowered to take actions such as eviction and restricted access against individuals who pose a significant risk of infringing on teachers’ educational activities. school principal authorities have been significantly strengthened under the revised enforcement decree.
New Enforcement Decree for School Principals
The Ministry of Education announced during a Cabinet meeting on the 20th that the partial amendment to the ‘Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,’ which outlines procedures for school principals to handle malicious complainants, was deliberated and voted upon.
According to the decree, when a school complaint arises that threatens to disrupt educational activities, the principal must notify the person raising the complaint and request that the behavior cease. If the complainant refuses to comply, the principal can take necessary measures, including terminating phone calls or meetings, executing an eviction or temporary access restriction, and reporting the individual to investigative authorities.
Addressing Teacher Rights Violations
Historically, a major issue has been the persistent problem of certain parents exercising malicious complaints that infringe upon teacher authority and disrupt student learning. The Ministry of Education expressed expectations that this decree amendment will help institutionalize and stabilize school-level complaint response systems in the field.
Furthermore, the decree includes provisions requiring the Minister of Education and superintendents of education to establish and implement annual support policies for student guardians starting next year. The National Parent Support Center will also be tasked with conducting research and developing training programs for professional personnel to enhance parent capacity and policy comprehension.
