Increase in School-Age Children of Multicultural Families... Hear Policy Proposals Directly

Ministry of Gender Equality to Hold 'Multicultural Family Participation Meeting' on 22nd

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] As the number of school-age children in multicultural families increases, the government is also expanding policies to support the growth of school-age children.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on the 21st that it will hold the "2021 First Half Multicultural Family Participation Meeting" on the 22nd to hear opinions related to multicultural family policies. At the meeting, committee members will share difficulties they faced raising children as parents of multicultural families and their experiences growing up as second-generation immigrants.

The Ministry plans to discuss programs for school-age children and adolescents in multicultural families, support the role of parents needed for school life, and discuss ways to connect institutions such as schools and support centers.

The number of children under 19 in multicultural families increased from 44,000 in 2007 to 265,000 as of 2019. By age group, the proportions are 44.2% preschool children, 44.2% elementary school students, and 16.5% middle and high school students.

As of 2019, the number of children in multicultural families is ▲117,045 preschool children ▲104,064 elementary school students ▲40,517 middle and high school students. Compared to 2016, these numbers increased by 3.1%, 83.3%, and 40.1%, respectively.

The Ministry supports services such as child guidance, language education, and parent education to ensure there are no difficulties in raising children in multicultural families. Starting in the second half of the year, in cooperation with POSCO, one-on-one customized academic counseling for academic achievement and career and job exploration will also be provided to children attending middle and high school.

Kim Kyung-sun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, said, “It is important to support all children and adolescents to receive education in a fair environment without social disparities and prejudice and to grow as talents in an integrated society. Based on the opinions of the multicultural family participation meeting members, we will prepare measures to strengthen support for the healthy growth of school-age children in multicultural families, including academic achievement and career exploration.”