Jeonnam-Gwangju teachers protest 100% essay assessment plan

Teachers in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region are strongly opposing the education office's plan to implement 100% essay-based assessments, with a recent survey indicating overwhelming disapproval.

According to a poll conducted by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) Gwangju and Jeonnam chapters, 97% of surveyed teachers deemed the process of introducing the policy inappropriate, while 91.4% expressed negative views on the 100% essay-based assessment system itself. The survey also found that 80.9% of teachers disagreed with the education office's projection that the new assessment method would improve literacy and critical thinking skills.

The education office's transition committee announced plans to initially introduce the 100% essay-based assessment system in 2027 for fifth and sixth graders, first-year middle school students, and specific subjects, regions, and schools. The goal is to gradually expand this system across all elementary, middle, and high schools by 2032. However, the KTU argues that with only six months remaining until the planned implementation, there has been no consultation or opinion gathering from teachers who will be responsible for designing and administering these assessments.

The union attributes the strong opposition to the "uniform and compulsory" nature of the 100% implementation, the "unreasonable speed" of introducing it so soon, and the "unilateral procedure" that excludes the voices of educators. Teachers are concerned about the practical challenges and potential negative impacts of such a drastic shift in assessment methods without adequate preparation and support.

The KTU is demanding that the education office immediately halt the policy and reconsider it from the ground up. They are calling for the establishment of a channel for teacher consultation and policy discussion before any final decisions are made, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach to educational reform.

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The reason for the strong opposition is the uniform compulsion of '100% full implementation,' the unreasonable speed of 'starting next year,' and the unilateral procedure that excludes the field.