Students and parents who file complaints with schools will face legal punishment if they disrupt educational activities or obstruct school operations under a revised law.
According to the Ministry of Education on Monday, the revised Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which recently passed the National Assembly plenary session, includes provisions to expand the protection of teachers' rights.
The revision clearly defines the concept of school complaints and specifically stipulates the responsibilities of those who file them. It imposes an obligation on complainants to refrain from disrupting educational activities or obstructing operations. School principals must take necessary measures, including ordering removal from school premises, in accordance with presidential decree when such disruptions are anticipated.
The revision also requires schools and their supervising education offices to establish "complaint response teams" and "school complaint response support teams," respectively. When complaints are difficult to resolve at the school level, principals can request their supervising education office to provide support or handle the matter directly.
In addition, the revision restricts the use of student records for commercial transactions or business purposes once obtained. It also includes a provision requiring the Education Minister and superintendents to produce textbooks for students and teachers with disabilities in accessible formats such as braille and distribute them before the start of each semester. These provisions will take effect six months after the law's promulgation.
"Through this legal revision, we aimed to build an environment where school staff can focus on their core duties with peace of mind," a Ministry of Education official said. "It also reflects the national agenda of expanding the protection of teachers' rights."