[단독]Teachers’ dropouts declined due to the cold weather of employment… “Non-face-to-face effect”

[이데일리 신하영 기자] The number of faculty honorary retirees, which has steadily increased since 2017 in the aftermath of the fall of the school authority, has turned to a decline in four years, with a decrease of close to 10% from the previous year this year. It is analyzed that this is because the economic recession and the cold wave of employment caused by the coronavirus make it difficult to find other jobs, and that the infringement of teachers’ authority has rather decreased due to the reduction of in-person classes.

A teacher is taking a distance class at an elementary school in Nowon-gu, Seoul, which opened online in April last year. (Photo = Newsis)

11 out of 15 provincial offices of education decreased

On the 24th, E-Daily conducted a thorough survey of the status of faculty honorary retirement in February at 17 provincial and provincial offices of education nationwide. As a result, the number of teachers withdrawal decreased in 11 out of 15. The remaining 3 increased, and 1 remained the same. The Busan and Jeonbuk Offices of Education, which have not yet determined the number of people withdrawn, were excluded.

The number of teachers scheduled to drop out next month at 15 provincial offices of education was 5315, down 494 (9.3%) from last year (5809). By region, Seoul decreased by 244 from 1342 to 1098, while Gyeonggi 93 and Daegu decreased by 36.

In the education world, there are reactions with unexpected results over the decline in the number of teachers withdrawn this year. This is because the number of teachers withdrawn from school has steadily increased since 2017 as the infringement of teachers’ authority has increased. According to the current status of infringement of teachers’ authority over the past five years (2016~200.8), which was submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Dong-yong from 17 provinces and provinces and offices of education in October last year, the number of infringements of teachers’ authority in front-line schools in the past five years was 10,867.

On the other hand, in the aftermath of the coronavirus last year, classes were reduced and confrontation with students and parents decreased, leading to a decrease in the infringement of teachers’ authority. According to the data of Congressman Seo, the number of infringements of teacher rights until the first semester of last year was 545, which was a decrease from the previous year.

In particular, the retirement period of the generation of baby boomers (born 1958-1962) in the teaching profession and the revision of the Public Officials Pension Act was the basis for predicting an increase in the number of teachers. According to the revised pension law, teachers must cancel by this year to receive pensions from the age of 60, and from next year the pension payment age will be delayed annually by one year. For this reason, the number of teachers withdrawn by year (as of February) in the 15 provincial offices of education has steadily increased from 3253 in 2017 to 4099 in 2018, 5294 in 2019 and 5809 in 2020.

However, as the number of dropouts declined this year after breaking expectations, some analyzes say whether the employment cold and the expansion of remote classes had an effect. An official from the Jeonnam Office of Education said, “Last year, the reduction of school classes has reduced teachers’ work stress due to student life guidance.”

“After requesting withdrawal, sometimes withdrawal for economic reasons”

The analysis shows that the cold wave of employment and the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus also led to a decrease in the number of teachers. The idea that it would be difficult to get another job that deserves to leave the teaching profession slowed the rise in the number of people. According to the National Statistical Office on the 13th, the number of employed persons per year decreased by 218,000 last year from the previous year due to the corona crisis, the largest decrease since the 1998 financial crisis. An official from the Daegu Office of Education said, “I heard it because of the difficult economic situation as some teachers who have applied for withdrawal withdrawal.”

There is also an objection to the fact that the burden of teacher work has decreased due to the expansion of remote classes. A high school teacher in Seoul said, “In accordance with the school quarantine guidelines, work stress has increased because we have to pay attention to meal guidance after checking the fever for school students every morning.” You will have to find it.”

Professor Park Nam-ki of Gwangju National University of Education also said, “There are teachers who have become relatively free as the time to face to face with students has decreased due to the expansion of remote classes, while teachers who want to teach more students are complaining of the difficulties and frustration in non-face-to-face classes.” Rather, the recognition that there is nothing to do if you quit teaching due to the cold job market caused by the coronavirus would be the factor that stopped the rise in the decline.”

15 Provincial Offices of Education 2017-2021 Status of Faculty Withdrawals in February (Source: Each Provincial Office of Education, Graphic = Reporter Lee Mina)