Gyeonggi-do Supports 'Uniform Fees' for Middle and High School Students Not Wearing Uniforms

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is expanding free school uniform support not only for new middle and high school students in the province but also for students entering schools that do not require uniforms and for residents enrolling in high schools in other cities or provinces.

The province announced on the 13th that the "Gyeonggi Province School Uniform Support Ordinance" and the "Gyeonggi Province Alternative Education Institutions Student Uniform Support Ordinance," which include these provisions, will be enforced starting from the 14th, allowing students previously excluded from uniform support to receive benefits.

Until now, students entering schools that require uniforms and first-year students transferring from other cities, provinces, or abroad received school-organized uniforms in kind.

According to the revised ordinance, students attending schools with uniform autonomy who did not receive uniform purchase benefits will be supported with 300,000 KRW in local currency or cash from the second semester to purchase everyday clothes.

Additionally, free uniform support, which was previously provided only to students entering schools in other cities or provinces up to middle school, will now be extended to students entering high schools in other cities or provinces.

First-year middle and high school students in the province, including those attending uniform-autonomous schools, can apply through their respective schools. Students at alternative education institutions or first-year students attending middle or high schools in other cities or provinces can apply at the administrative welfare center of their district or county based on their address with the required documents.

Kim Dong-wook, Director of the Education Cooperation Division of the province, explained, "Starting with the metropolitan area's first free middle school uniform support project in 2019, the target has been expanded annually and step-by-step, eliminating blind spots in uniform welfare. We will cooperate with the Provincial Office of Education to promote the project so that good quality uniforms can be provided to residents."