Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Seoul on Saturday to denounce the South Korean government’s new education policies, which they say will undermine the country’s public school system..
The protest, organized by the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (KTU), drew an estimated 80,000 people, according to organizers. Protesters marched through the streets of Seoul, carrying signs and chanting slogans against the government’s education reforms..
The new education plan, which was announced by the government in September, includes a number of changes to the way that public schools are funded and operated. The plan would increase the number of private schools in the country, and would give parents more choice in where their children attend school..
Critics of the plan say that it will lead to a two-tiered education system, with private schools becoming more prestigious and well-funded than public schools. They also argue that the plan will make it more difficult for students from low-income families to access quality education..
The government has defended the plan, saying that it will improve the quality of education in South Korea. The government has also said that it will provide financial support to students from low-income families to help them attend private schools..
The protest on Saturday was the latest in a series of demonstrations against the government’s education reforms. In August, tens of thousands of teachers and students held a strike to protest the plan..
The government has said that it is open to dialogue with protesters, but has not yet made any changes to the plan..
On Friday, the KTU announced that it would hold a second strike on October 9th if the government does not withdraw the plan..
The government has said that it will continue to negotiate with the KTU, but has not said whether it will withdraw the plan..
The protest on Saturday was peaceful, but there were some reports of violence. Police used water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to block a road..
The protest is a sign of the growing public opposition to the government’s education reforms. The government will need to address the concerns of protesters if it wants to implement the plan successfully..
