Since 2004, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has nurtured model schools for the practice of human rights education as part of school education. The progress of the programs was shared in a series of meetings in 12 different model schools nationwide from June to November this year.
The meetings drew public attention from local communities and officials. Major points of the meetings were:
- Briefings on human rights education programs that have been developed and put in place at each model school in 2006 and 2007;
- The observation of human rights classes by local teachers and education officials;
- Exhibiting of work completed by students and outcomes achieved; and
- Exhibiting of educational aids and textbooks.
The meetings were reminiscent of the year 2004, when the Commission first designated a total of five elementary, middle and high schools as model human rights schools. At that time, the term “human rights education” was not a ubiquitous part of vernacular in society as it has grown to be today.
The schools that were designated as human rights education schools before 2005 were later coined as the first-generation model schools. The Commission continued to develop the second-generation of model schools after 2005.
Currently, eight elementary and four middle schools are in the second-generation model school category. The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development also designated 32 schools across the nation as model schools regarding human rights policy for students to promote human rights education, a move which was inspired by the Commission’s initiatives.
During this series of meetings, some of the second-generation model schools were criticized for the content and quality of education offered in their schools, which largely relied on the individual teacher’s capabilities and was geared toward teaching a superficial understanding of human rights rather than an internalized notion of human rights.
However, such weaknesses were raised only to be overshadowed by remarks in praise of progress since the first generation of model schools:
- More diverse programs were developed and initiated;
- Stronger interest and participation on the part of students, parents and local community members; and
- More emphasis was placed on the rights of students and social minorities.
From the many suggestions brought up during the series of meetings, the most frequent was that schools should begin incorporating families into the education.
The Commission is planning to hold a meeting to evaluate and report on the operation of model schools in December 2007. The aim of the meeting will be to evaluate outcomes more objectively, to share education programs and to show appreciation for and offer encouragement to those running the schools. In 2008 the Commission plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development to further advance human rights education at schools.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001, offering investigation and remedy services for Korean citizens and foreigners residing in Korea against human rights violations and discrimination. The Commission provides policy recommendations and remedial action against human rights infringements, collaborates with international human rights organizations and implements educational programs to improve the human rights culture.
