Gyeongnam Office of Education Realizes Full Free Education with Financial Support for 10th Grade Students

Support for Tuition and School Operation Fees Starting from the Second Semester

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Sharon] The Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education will support the education expenses for first-year high school students starting from the second semester to help overcome the economic crisis caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). With this, Gyeongnam will achieve full free education.

Superintendent Park held a press conference on the morning of the 25th and announced that from the second semester, education expenses for first-year high school students in the province will be supported to reduce the burden on parents.

The education expense support targets 20,454 first-year high school students, excluding existing beneficiaries including those legally exempted. From the second semester, tuition fees and school operation support fees will be provided. The required budget is 10.9 billion KRW for tuition and 2.5 billion KRW for school operation support, totaling 13.4 billion KRW. The tuition per student is 475,000 KRW, and the school operation support fee is 115,000 KRW, resulting in an average tuition reduction effect of 590,000 KRW.

The office has been implementing phased free education to strengthen the public nature of education, supporting education expenses for third-year high school students from the second semester of 2019 and for second-year high school students from 2020. Although free education for first-year high school students was originally planned to start in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing continued consumption contraction and economic recession, and increasing the burden of education expenses on parents, the implementation has been advanced.

To prepare the basis for support, the office plans to revise the "Gyeongsangnam-do School Tuition and Admission Fees Ordinance Enforcement Rules" in June and reflect this in the third supplementary budget.

Park Jong-hoon, Superintendent of Gyeongnam Provincial Office of Education, said, "As the crisis caused by COVID-19 continues to cause consumption contraction and economic recession, the economic burden on parents is increasing," and added, "In times of crisis, it is more necessary than ever to ensure that differences in economic power do not lead to differences in education. Our education office will make greater efforts to establish and support active measures so that all students can enjoy high-quality education without discrimination."