[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] The Ministry of Education's budget for next year has been finalized at 89.6251 trillion won, marking a record high. The government plans to provide half-priced tuition benefits to 1 million low- and middle-income university students through the Ministry of Education's budget.
On the 3rd, the Ministry of Education announced at the National Assembly plenary session that the 2022 budget under its jurisdiction was finalized at 89.6251 trillion won. This is an increase of 13.1606 trillion won (17.2%) compared to the previous year's main budget (76.4645 trillion won) and 983.3 billion won more than the original 2022 government proposal.
To alleviate the educational expenses burden on low- and middle-income groups struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education significantly expanded the national scholarship budget to 4.6567 trillion won, an increase of 662.1 billion won from this year.
Accordingly, the support amount for the first child in basic and near-poverty households has been expanded from the existing 5.2 million won per year to 7 million won, and full tuition is supported for the second child.
The national scholarship support amount for low- and middle-income households with a monthly recognized income of 90-200% of the median income for a four-person household has also increased from the existing 675,000 to 3.68 million won per year to 3.5 to 3.9 million won per year.
The Ministry of Education expects that about 1 million low- and middle-income university students will effectively receive half-priced tuition benefits next year. As of this year, 692,000 students receive half-priced tuition benefits through national scholarships.
Considering the financial difficulties of universities caused by COVID-19, universities not selected as support targets for the University Innovation Support Project based on the 2021 University Basic Competency Diagnosis results will also be additionally selected through a separate selection process, including 6 general universities and 7 vocational colleges, and supported.
The 6 unselected general universities will receive an average of 3 billion won each, and the 7 vocational colleges will receive an average of 2 billion won each, totaling an additional 32 billion won in support. To alleviate concerns about large-scale employment reductions of lecturers at public and private universities, 26.4 billion won will be allocated in 2022 for improving the treatment of private university lecturers.
Operating expenses for the Nuri Curriculum at kindergartens and daycare centers increased by 20,000 won per unit compared to the previous year, resulting in an increase of 239.4 billion won. Accordingly, the tuition support amount for national and public kindergartens will rise from 80,000 won to 100,000 won per month, support for private kindergartens will increase from 260,000 won to 280,000 won per month, and daycare center childcare fees will increase from 330,000 won to 350,000 won per month.
To recover learning losses among elementary and secondary students due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, academic supplementation will be provided through 'tutoring by university students majoring in education and teacher training.' The tutoring project for education and teacher training students will be promoted using the work-study scholarship budget within the national scholarship program.
Additionally, to expand educational activity support for low-income students, educational benefits for elementary, middle, and high school students have been increased by an average of 21% compared to the previous year.
To reduce the educational gap for low-income students caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary separate support of 100,000 won per person will be provided for purchasing learning materials and EBS content.
The Ministry of Education allocated 519.4 billion won for the Green Smart Future School project, which aims to build a future-oriented curriculum foundation through reconstruction and remodeling of school facilities that have been aging for over 40 years.
The 484 schools targeted this year have completed pre-planning and are proceeding with design and construction, and additional schools will be selected next year.
The lifelong education voucher project, which supports the expansion of lifelong learning participation for marginalized groups such as low-income individuals, has been doubled from 7.4 billion won this year to 14.1 billion won next year.
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