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In a drastic new program, the children of parents in Seoul who offer of cash gifts to teachers will be disqualified from all internal and external awards. So far, only teachers were subject to punishment for violating laws on the integrity of public officials if they took cash gifts from parents. Launching a campaign to promote integrity in cooperation with civic organizations, the Seoul Office of Education announced the new policy to fight rampant bribery in schools on Sunday.
The education office will also discipline and report teachers to the prosecution on bribery charges if they are caught taking money and entertainment from companies with business relationships with schools, such as school meal suppliers. Bribe takers will be disqualified for promotions and incentives.
Teachers are to face punishment regardless of the size of the bribes. So far, the education office has reported teachers to the prosecution only when they took more than W2 million (US$1=W916) in bribes, applying rules on the conduct of public officials.
Parent organizations will also be banned from collecting money to support school events or projects or provide students with snacks.
The Seoul Education Office drew up the new anti-bribery policy after coming last among 16 city and provincial education offices in an integrity rating by the Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The Korea Federation of Teacher¡¯s Associations criticized the new plan as ¡°excessive¡±, saying cash gifts to teachers were the result of parents¡¯ distorted education view and teachers¡¯ lack of ethics but it was ¡°wrong to hold students accountable for their parents¡¯ bribery.¡± Punishing parents who collect donations from fellow parents for school projects is also excessive, since the contributions are not used for personal purposes, it added.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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