Education International sends message to KTU general assembly in Naju

The General Secretary of the EI sent a message for the KTU (Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union) assembly, which celebrated the 18th anniversary of the establishment of the KTU. The assembly met in Naju on May 20th, 2007.

5,000 members of the KTU gathered on the riverbank of Naju city. At the assembly, the KTU addressed the education crisis in rural communities. If it is signed by both nations, the Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and South Korea will destroy rural economies and make it impossible to maintain public schools and education budgets in rural counties.

Below is the text of EI's message:

Message of support to the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union General Assembly

From Fred van Leeuwen, General Secretary of Education International

Brussels, 20 May 2007

Dear colleagues and friends,

You are united today to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union in 1989.

Let me bring you the greetings of 30 million teachers and education workers of the 384 member organisations of Education International in 169 countries and territories.

In those 18 years, your country and teachers have witnessed a lot of developments. Korea joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1996 on the conditions that the country reforms its labour legislation to make it compatible with international labour standards guaranteeing, among other things, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. As you know, on the request of the labour movement, the OECD Committee on Employment, Labour and Social Affairs is monitoring closely the Korean labour law and industrial relations reform. So far, the international labour movement is not satisfied with the extent and speed (or lack of) of the reform process. The Korean Government needs to do more and faster!

The South Korean Government has also engaged in a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Agreement yet to be ratified by the the National Assembly and Parliament of both nations. Globalisation can represent a positive development. Trade and investment are needed, and many workers, including many Korean workers, depend on globalisation for their livelihood. But in many places, workers rights are denied and there is plenty of evidence of downward pressure on labour standards.

EI, together with its partners from the International Trade Union Confederation, other Global Union Federations and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) campaign for rules to govern global markets notably in the social area. For example, globalisation has drawn dramatic attention to the need to guarantee core workers rights on a global basis.

For EI, the primary concern at the effects of globalisation is its potential erosion of the effective regulation and its spill over effects on public services. I understand that, here in Korea, this Free Trade Agreement may have devastating effect on the rural communities and farmers, leading to the drastic reduction in the number of public schools in the country side.

Education International stands in full solidarity with the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union and with all Korean teachers and education personnel in your struggles.

EI insists that it is governments' responsibility to make adequate funds available for education. Schooling decisively influences the future of people and the development of countries.

There can be no doubt that education is a fundamental human right, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As such, it must remain a core responsibility of states to guarantee the provision of quality education to all without discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, culture or social class. Education is therefore a public service, not a commodity.

The commercialisation of education services carries with it risks of inequity and discrimination. It also threatens to undermine the very special role that education plays in fostering democratic values and respect for diversity.

By making more money available for education and teachers, countries invest in the future of their population.

While funding of education is crucial, social dialogue with teachers and their representative organisations on the content and implementation of education reforms is essential to a sound democratic regime. Korean teachers and workers deserve to be listened to as they are instrumental to the transformation of the country.

I wish you courage, determination and good luck, remembering that 29 million teachers in the world are in solidarity with you today and in your future endeavours.

2007.05.21
Kim Sukkyu

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