Parents of students have stepped forward for genuine local autonomy in education. They are going to run for seats in the education commission in their local governments.
The National Parents' Association for True Education (NPATE) gave a press conference on June 18 in the Zelcova Tree cafe in Anguk-dong, where they announced, "The education commission today has degraded into a old-age safety net for retired educator officials. In order to change that and revive the initial spirit of local autonomy in education, six of our representatives have decided to run for education commissioners."
This is the first time that parents of students have personally registered as candidates for seats in education commission.
The candidates who announced their plans at the press conference are NPATE vice-presidents Park In Ok (Incheon, constituency 2) and Park Kyung Yang (Seoul, constituency 5), Cheongju branch president Jin Ok Kyung (Chungbuk, constituency 2), Andong branch president Min Deok Gi (Gyeongbuk, constituency 1), Gimhae branch director of local education support Lee Gwang Hee (Gyeongnam, constituency 4), and Incheon branch vice-president Roh Hyun Kyung (Incheon constituency 4).
After explaining their reasons for deciding to run for education commissioners, the candidates announced 'A Pledge to Parents throughout the Country,' through which they promised to "eradicate corruption and malpractices in the education system" and to "reflect parents' opinions in municipal and provincial education policies in order to provide all students with high quality education."
