Schools to decide own student conduct rules

Schools will be able to set their own student conduct rules without interference by their superintendents, education ministry officials said Monday.

The Education Ministry is expected to issue an advance legislative notice Tuesday on the revision to the primary and secondary education law that will allow schools to set their own conduct guidelines on dress code, hairstyles, carrying cellphones and other issues.

The revision came after the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education proclaimed an ordinance on student rights at schools which guarantees the freedom to choose clothing and hairstyles, and that allows students to carry mobile phones on campus.

“We proposed the revision of the law as student conduct rules should be decided by school members, not by the ordinance set by municipal offices,” said an education official.

The student rights ordinance has caused controversy and conflict between conservatives and progressives over who should decide student guidelines.

Under the revised law, members of schools ― students, parents and teachers ― should strike an agreement on new student conduct rules.

It is up to the education minister and superintendents of local education offices to determine the procedures regarding the revision of school conduct rules, such as how to gather opinions, according to officials.

Three municipalities ― Gwangju, Seoul and Gyeonggi Province ― have passed their own ordinances to enhance student rights at schools.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)