Extending Elementary After-School Care to 7 PM to Match Dual-Income Workers' Commute Times

Ministry of Education Announces 'Improvement Plan for Elementary After-School Care Class Operation'
Recommended Extension of Care Operation Hours from 5 PM to 7 PM
Operation Hours to Be Decided by Education Offices and Schools Based on Demand and Conditions
Currently 250,000 Participants in Care... Targeting 310,000 Next Year
Administrative Work Time Also Included in Care Staff Working Hours

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education will extend the operating hours of elementary after-school care classrooms from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It plans to expand 700 care classrooms, focusing on areas with high demand. The working hours of care specialists will also be adjusted appropriately by distinguishing between administrative and care duties.

On the 4th, the Ministry of Education announced the "Improvement Plan for the Operation of Elementary After-School Care Classrooms" at a meeting held at the Government Sejong Complex, attended by representatives from five parent organizations.

Elementary after-school care classrooms are systems where care specialists look after students in classrooms set up at schools, targeting children from dual-income families, single-parent families, and low-income households. As of September last year, 256,213 students participated. There is also an "After-School Program Linked Care Classroom" for 3rd to 6th graders who do not use afternoon care, with 27,626 participants as of last year.

The Ministry of Education will extend the operating hours to 7 p.m. to align with the commuting times of working parents. According to a survey on expanding the operating hours of elementary after-school care classrooms for parents, 64.7% wished for extension until 6 p.m., and 11.9% desired extension until 7 p.m. Currently, 88.9% of operating care classrooms provide care only until 5 p.m., and only 11.1% operate beyond 5 p.m.

The Ministry aims to increase the scale of care classrooms so that 310,000 students can use care services by next year. To secure additional classrooms, 21 billion KRW will be invested to add 700 classrooms within the year, increasing the total to 3,500 classrooms.

The improvement plan for elementary after-school care classroom operations proposed by the Ministry of Education will be implemented by metropolitan and provincial offices of education based on conditions and care demand. In other words, whether to extend care hours will be decided by the offices of education and schools considering demand and circumstances. The Ministry only "recommends" operating until 7 p.m., and there are no penalties for non-compliance.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "If there is actual demand, we will transform the system to provide care until 7 p.m.," adding, "Necessary classroom expansions will be made based on demand surveys, and working hours of care specialists will be adjusted accordingly. The decision will be led by the offices of education, and since there is social demand, education offices will also make efforts."

In addition to care operating hours, working hours for care specialists will be calculated including time spent on administrative tasks. For example, if care operating hours are six hours, an additional 1 to 2 hours for preparation, cleanup, and administrative work will be added to determine appropriate working hours. Currently, 56.4% of care specialists work less than six hours a day, and many work longer than their contracts due to preparation, cleanup, or administrative duties. Only 16.4% are full-time specialists. This has caused problems where earlier start times make afternoon or evening care difficult.

The Ministry of Education plans to shift the operation of care classrooms to be centered around care specialists. Care specialists have long complained about excessive administrative burdens alongside care duties, and the current "administrator-teacher-care specialist" system within schools has increased teachers' workloads. The Ministry will operate school administrative support teams including care specialists within individual schools and assign them to handle all tasks related to care classroom operations.

An official from the Ministry said, "Although the care work guideline designates a 'administrator-teacher-specialist' system, improving it to a system where care specialists take the lead is a significant change," adding, "Administrative tasks will now shift from teachers to care specialists, who also want to play their role as care experts. Appropriate working hours will be established through collective bargaining and implementation plans."

Furthermore, starting next year, the Ministry will pilot "Hub Care Centers" led by education offices. These centers will utilize available spaces in schools or external facilities within the region, with care personnel and program operations managed by the education office. They will provide care at the same level as elementary after-school care classrooms, jointly respond to care demand from nearby schools, and extend operating hours. The Hub Care Center model is benchmarked after the "Neulbom" Integrated Care Center of the Gyeongnam Office of Education.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "This plan was prepared with the goal of prioritizing students and parents and providing stable care," adding, "We will closely cooperate with metropolitan and provincial offices of education to manage the quality of care services provided according to each school's circumstances and strive to ensure that students who truly need care can receive it."