[Q&A] Jo Hee-yeon "The Scope of Admission Support Funds for Middle and High School Freshmen Should Be Expanded"

Starting Next Year, 300,000 KRW Support
Can Purchase Clothing and Tablet PCs
Expansion to Books and Stationery Under Review

If Residence Is Not Seoul
Verification Needed for Duplicate Benefits
Out-of-School Youth Excluded

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (left), and Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, announced on the morning of the 29th at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, that they will provide "admission preparation funds" that can be used to purchase school uniforms or tablet computers (PCs) for new students entering middle and high schools in the 2021 academic year.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Starting next year, new middle and high school students in Seoul will receive an 'admission preparation fund' of 300,000 KRW, which can be used to purchase school uniforms or tablet PCs. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 29th that it will implement the admission preparation fund system together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and 25 autonomous districts to reduce the economic burden on students entering middle and high schools and to strengthen the public nature of education. The amount is 300,000 KRW per person regardless of income. When new middle and high school students are assigned to and register at their schools in February, they can apply by submitting the required documents and receive support in the form of 'Zero Pay' mobile gift certificates. Below is a Q&A session with Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul; Lee Dong-jin, Chairman of the Seoul Council of District Mayors (Dobong District Mayor); and Jung Won-oh, Seongdong District Mayor.

=Currently, the eligible purchase items are limited to clothing and smart devices. Why are stationery and reference books excluded?

▲(Mayor Jung) We are currently in consultation with the Social Security Committee. The agreement on clothing such as school uniforms and smart devices has been completed, but stationery and books are still under review.

▲(Superintendent Cho) The Ministry of Education currently supports low-income students with supplementary textbook fees and stationery fees, which will be changed to education activity support funds starting next year, expanding the scope of use. Detailed adjustments will be made while coordinating overlaps with these systems. Basically, it should be seen as an expansion.

=For autonomous private high schools nationwide or schools located in Seoul but where the student's residence is outside Seoul, are they excluded from support?

▲(Superintendent Cho) We consider such students as Seoul students. Further review will be possible later.

▲(Mayor Jung) We need to additionally identify how many students attend school in Seoul but reside outside Seoul and check whether they receive similar benefits at their registered residence. This is an issue that requires further discussion.

=Are out-of-school youths excluded from support?

▲(Superintendent Cho) Out-of-school youths are not included. For out-of-school youths, an education participation allowance system has already been established to provide support. Since this case started with free school uniforms, out-of-school youths will be covered by a different support system.

=While the intention is agreeable, given the poor financial situation, will this affect other projects?

▲(Superintendent Cho) Since last year, we have received multiple requests through Seoul city council members and from parents in districts neighboring the four districts implementing free school uniforms. Considering these points, a decision was made during the final budget adjustment process.

=I understand all smart devices have already been distributed.

▲(Superintendent Cho) Schools and the education office have provided support using surplus laptops and other smart devices. However, as remote classes have become routine in middle and high schools, it has become more necessary for each school level to have their own devices.