[Editorial] First Direct Election for Superintendent of
Educational Affairs
The election of a superintendent of educational affairs in Busan, who will be elected by a vote of residents for the first time in the whole country, is going to take place tomorrow. Public election campaigns of five candidates continued throughout the last two weeks, from February 1, and end today. The election for a superintendent of educational affairs of Busan is special as it is expected to seriously impact other districts because the direct election of a superintendent is unprecedented.
Despite such expectations, it can also be forecast that voter turnout will not exceed 20%. This is predicted because the poor educational environment has led to indifference in the citizens. Increasing private education and the break down of public education are factors that represent today’s education, which have come to the stage where no further action can be taken by local educational affairs. In addition to this, the centralization of education is getting seriously involved. Therefore, ‘local educational affairs’ is given unkind treatment with no place to be established. Such circumstances are definitely reflected in the election of a superintendent.
Despite the difficult situation, local educational affairs cannot give in and should revive their source. This is the significance of the direct election of a superintendent. The required conditions of ‘progressive self-governing education’ can be accomplished only when it is based on strong support of the residents. Hence, the motive that promotes educational change in districts across the whole country can be carried out.
The future of our children is directly linked to voting for the right leader of local self-governing education. Therefore, first, the election a superintendent of educational affairs must be successfully carried out. If the rate of participation in the election is low, it is possible to distort the consensus of public opinion on education of the majority of residents. The positive participation of residents in the election is the only way to stop such abuse. A candidate without fair educational policies and vision should not be elected. The damage from enforcing improper policies will entirely be returned to the residents and students. Education is a long-term project of the country. Residents should cast their valuable votes, which is a responsible action to participate in local educational affairs.
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 / 입력시간: 2007. 02.14. 08:20
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