[Barrier-free] 137 Barriers in PNU Campus

Pusan National University (PNU) Busan Campus does not sufficiently guarantee the right of movement for disabled students. It is necessary to prepare measures and improve the perception of the members of PNU.

"Channel PNU" inspected the Busan Campus from May 23rd to 27th and found that PNU did not properly guarantee the right of movement for disabled students. A total of 137 places had factors that hinder the direction of the disabled, with 78 offsets, 26 widths of passage, 26 poor finishes, and 7 slopes. Disabled students in wheelchairs cannot move in these places without the help of others.

These obstacles have been pointed out in the evaluation of the Ministry of Education. PNU was ranked as the only "Best" university in Busan in the "Evaluation of Education Welfare Support for Disabled Students" conducted every three years by the National Special Education Center of the Ministry of Education in 2014, 2017, and 2020. However, PNU got a significant deduction at the mediation facility item in "Facilities," which evaluates whether the Campus is safe to move and access and whether there are any obstacles to walking, among the evaluation items such as "Selection," "Teaching & Learning," and "Facilities." Despite the evaluation of being the "Best" university, the right to movement is not sufficiently guaranteed.

PNU should guarantee the right of movement for disabled students according to the Partial Amendment of the "Act on Special Education for Persons with Disabilities," which will take effect from the end of June. The Partial Amendment of the "Act on Special Education for Persons with Disabilities," which came into force on June 29th, stipulates that the school regulations should define specific matters for disabled students to strengthen their right to study. The right to learn is possible only when the right to movement and convenience facilities are guaranteed.

The Disability Support Center and the University Headquarters were aware of this. Lee Sung-Jae (Chief of administration, Disability Support Center) said, "The internal facilities of the building of PNU Busan Campus are quite well-equipped. But the biggest factor that restricts the mobility rights is the ramp of the school site." Lee Jung-Mi (Official, Disability Support Center) said, "In the evaluation of the status of education welfare support, the item of "Learning" and "Living Support" is managed systematically, so the score is quite good. But it is true that the item of "Facilities" got the lowest score."

However, PNU said that it is challenging to improve immediately. Chief Lee said, "We have formed a 'self-evaluation committee' to grasp the status every three years, but it is not easy." An anonymous official of the Facilities Division of PNU said, "It is difficult to supplement the facilities ourselves, so when the Disability Support Center requests improvement, we supplement the facilities depending on the budget. The recent elevator construction in the Professor Research Building is part of it."

Meanwhile, there are 119 disabled students at PNU Busan Campus, of which 95 students are in the first semester of 2022.