A document sent by the Education Ministry to local education offices encouraging them to promote the Korea-U.S. FTA in local schools has met a backlash from a progressive teacher’s union and prompted regional education offices to review whether they should comply.

The 16 offices nationwide received an official document from the ministry Friday, asking them to promote the Korea-U.S. FTA on the websites of the regional education offices and schools by installing pop-ups and banners, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

The document encouraged the regional education offices to promote the recently passed Korea-U.S. FTA and explain some contested issues such as the investor-state dispute settlement system on the websites of offices, related agencies and schools, according to regional education officials.

Regarding the request, the Korea Teachers and Education Workers’ Union, a progressive group, opposed the move, saying the government was encouraging the action that harms the neutrality of schools guaranteed by the constitution.

“The government should not use schools and education as a means to promote the (President Lee Myung-bak) administration,” said Lim Jeong-hun, spokesperson of the KTEW.

But the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Association, a conservative teachers’ group, said it didn’t pose any harm to schools as the request was to deliver the facts about the FTA.

SMOE and the Gyeonggi Provincial Education Office, which have liberal superintendents, said Tuesday they were considering how they would respond to the ministry’s request.

“Due to the seriousness of the matter, it will take a couple of days to decide our position on this,” said an official of GPEO on condition of anonymity.

“We are in the middle of the debate whether we should follow the request from our upper institution or whether it is right to put school into the controversial issue that divides our society,” the official said.

SMOE also said it was reviewing the request and had not established an official position on the issue. But a SMOE official hinted that the office was not likely to follow the request of the ministry as the request is not mandatory.

The Education Ministry said the request was part of the government-wide efforts to promote the FTA. They requested participation of public institutions to circulate verified information about the FTA, they said.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)