Realizing the Operation of Elementary School After-School Care Classrooms... 'Proposal' to Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education

Caregiver Requests Early Pickup by 4:30 PM, While Office Workers Leave at 6 PM... Issues Arise

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] A complaint about the operation of an after-school care classroom at an elementary school in Suncheon attracted attention after being posted on Facebook for a while.

The after-school care classroom operated at the elementary school is mainly used by lower-grade students in grades 1 and 2. The reason it heated up on social media was a phone call from the care teacher asking parents to pick up their children in time for the teacher’s departure preparation.

The care teacher requested parents, “I have to leave work at 5 p.m. and need about 30 minutes to clean up, so please pick up your child by 4:30 p.m.” If the academy vehicle picks up the child at 5 p.m., parents have to go pick up their child in the middle. Working parents generally finish work around 6 p.m., so to match the end time of care, they feel forced to send their children to only one academy, which is a source of dissatisfaction.

This reflects a lack of understanding of educational service concepts in educational administration. In the difficult reality due to situations like COVID-19, it seems urgent for the education authorities to improve, as they are shifting the burden of private education onto parents.

The status of after-school care teachers is that of educational public employees, working either 25 hours per week from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. or 35 hours per week from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Suncheon Office of Education official stated that the care program is operated by schools selecting the time with the highest demand through surveys. If there are few demands for care until 7 p.m., it is conducted until 5 p.m.

A Suncheon Office of Education official said, “The working hours and forms of educational public employees are fixed, so it is an unavoidable situation,” and added, “We will convey these complaints to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education and suggest expanding care services.”