The Ministry of Education in South Korea has announced a comprehensive policy to identify and improve inefficient administrative procedures and outdated practices in schools. This initiative aims to enable schools to focus on essential educational functions and adapt to the needs of the AI era. The government has previously worked with local education offices to enhance school autonomy, including the establishment of the Local Education Autonomy Promotion Team in 2017 and the execution of 131 regulatory improvement tasks. Despite these efforts, feedback from schools indicated that autonomy at the ground level remains insufficient, prompting this new round of reforms.
The policy directly impacts teachers, students, school administrators, and parents by targeting unnecessary regulations and administrative burdens. For example, the Ministry will address practices such as requiring official commendation documents for student awards and excessive mandatory training in teacher qualification programs. Financial procedures will also be simplified, including the removal of redundant documentation for budget execution and more reasonable requirements for expense reporting. The Ministry will gather input through field meetings and the Together School online platform, ensuring broad stakeholder engagement.
Implementation involves systematic analysis of school operations and administrative tasks, divided into academic management and financial/administrative domains. The Ministry will hold consultations with educators, students, parents, and experts, and collect public feedback online. Support from local education offices will be expanded for tasks such as teacher promotions and contracts for swimming classes and transportation. The reforms are being rolled out sequentially, with immediate guidance provided to schools on eliminating unnecessary tasks and ongoing adjustments based on field feedback.
Frequently asked questions include: What is the main goal of the policy? The main goal is to reduce unnecessary administrative work so schools can focus on teaching and learning. How will schools and teachers benefit? Schools will experience less paperwork, more autonomy, and improved support for essential functions. What actions should stakeholders take? Teachers and administrators should participate in consultations and provide feedback through the Together School platform. The Ministry will continue to listen to field voices and adjust regulations to maximize school autonomy.
Metaqsol opinion: The Ministry of Education’s initiative to streamline administrative procedures in schools is a significant step toward empowering educators and improving educational outcomes. By focusing on the elimination of unnecessary regulations and involving stakeholders in the reform process, the policy is likely to enhance school autonomy and reduce operational burdens. The use of both in-person consultations and the Together School platform demonstrates a commitment to transparency and responsiveness. These changes have the potential to allow schools to better adapt to the evolving demands of modern education.