Employment support funds up to 700,000 won provided to 30,000 junior college students

Ministry of Education Launches Temporary Support Program to Enhance Employment Competency for Junior College Students
Universities Allocate Quotas and Select Students Considering Economic Status
100,000 KRW per Person for National Technical Qualifications, National Certified Qualifications, and Language Proficiency Test Fees
Eligible Students Must Complete Over 80% of Tuition... Cannot Overlap with Naeil Baeum Card

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education will provide support funds of 700,000 KRW per person to 30,000 junior college students who have faced difficulties in finding employment due to COVID-19, to cover expenses such as obtaining certifications.

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Education announced the basic plan for the "Temporary Support Project to Strengthen Employment Competency of Junior College Students Amid the COVID-19 Situation" and stated that it will invest 21.5 billion KRW.

The Ministry will support up to 700,000 KRW per person for about 30,000 unemployed graduates of junior colleges in 2021 and those expected to graduate in 2022, covering costs such as national official certification acquisition, language test fees, and completion of various educational programs.

The number of supported individuals will be allocated to each university based on the size of enrolled students, and each university will establish its own selection criteria prioritizing economic status within the allocated quota. After receiving student applications at junior colleges, support recipients will be selected and course fees and support funds will be paid by September.

Educational institutions such as universities, lifelong education facilities, and academies wishing to participate in this project must apply for course registration with the Korea Council for College Education. The entrusted organization, Daekyo Council, will finalize the registered institutions and courses after review by an internal expert committee.

Students wishing to receive education can apply only for educational institutions and courses uploaded on the online management system. The list of registered educational institutions and courses will be uploaded to the online management system, to be established by the entrusted organization, in August and will be regularly updated so that eligible recipients can check it at any time.

Examination fees cover costs necessary for employment preparation such as national technical qualifications, nationally certified private certificates, and private language proficiency tests. Examination fees will be paid by the entrusted organization directly to students up to 100,000 KRW per person upon submission of proof such as certificates or score reports. Tuition fees will be paid to educational institutions when students who have completed at least 80% of various educational programs operated by universities, lifelong vocational education academies, or other educational institutions request reimbursement from the entrusted organization.

Tuition fees support the costs incurred for completing various educational programs operated by educational institutions registered with the entrusted organization. Support will not be provided for items covered by other government-funded projects such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s National Employment Support System or designated training courses under the Tomorrow Learning Card program.

Jung Jong-cheol, Vice Minister of Education, said, "We hope this project will provide a stable foundation for junior college students struggling due to COVID-19 to successfully enter society."