Gyeongnam Province and Provincial Office of Education to Adjust Next Year's Cost-Sharing Rate for Free Meals for Low-Income Families

Education Administration Association, Confirmed 70% for Provincial Education Offices and 60% for 6 Cities and Counties in Gyeongnam
From 2022, the Same Ratio Applied as Free Meal Cost Sharing for General Students

Gyeongnam Office of Education and Gyeongnam Province held the "2020 Gyeongsangnam-do Education Administration Council Regular Meeting" on the 29th, pledging to make joint efforts to eliminate educational gaps among students in the province. (Photo by Gyeongnam Office of Education)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] The Gyeongnam Office of Education announced on the 29th that it has decided to work together with the Gyeongnam Provincial Education Administration Council to provide residents with uninterrupted, high-quality educational services.

At the '2020 Gyeongnam Provincial Education Administration Council Regular Meeting' held that day, the Office of Education and Gyeongnam Province discussed ▲ responding to changes in future education and resolving educational disparities ▲ discovering and supporting cooperation models at the city and county levels ▲ adjusting the funding share for free school meals for low-income families ▲ jointly promoting projects such as the Gyeongnam Small School Revitalization Project ▲ creating a child-friendly Gyeongnam ▲ collaborating on regional innovation platform projects.

On that day, the two organizations agreed to strengthen cooperation to resolve educational disparities and polarization issues among students caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the expansion of online and remote classes, and the advancement of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.

Regarding the funding share for free school meals for low-income families next year, considering the financial conditions of the province and cities/counties due to COVID-19, the Office of Education, province, and cities/counties will share the costs at a ratio of 70:6:24, respectively. However, from 2022, they agreed to share the costs at the same ratio as for free school meals for general students, which is 30:30:40, respectively.

Governor Kim Kyung-soo of Gyeongnam emphasized, "To restore regional vitality and compete with the metropolitan area, the province and the Office of Education must take the lead in uniting the capabilities of the region’s industry, economy, society, and education."

Superintendent Park Jong-hoon also responded, "Through close and continuous cooperation with Gyeongnam Province, we will create Gyeongnam education that becomes the hope of our society."