Ministry of Education and Council of Superintendents to Pursue Legal Amendments for Expanding Educational Decentralization

Formation of Joint Council to Strengthen Curriculum Planning and Operation
Also Promoting Amendment of the Local Education Autonomy Act

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education and the Korea Association of Provincial and Metropolitan Superintendents of Education held the 9th Education Autonomy Policy Council on the 7th to promote institutional improvements for expanding education autonomy.

The Ministry of Education and the Association of Provincial and Metropolitan Superintendents of Education decided to form and operate a joint consultative body to revise laws aimed at expanding educational decentralization and strengthening autonomy in curriculum organization and operation.

They also agreed to introduce a system that mandates prior consultation with the Minister of Education when central administrative agency heads enact or amend relevant laws that require organizing and operating curricula for kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools.

To promote education autonomy such as school democracy, they will push for amendments to the "Local Education Autonomy Act" and prepare measures to expand the autonomy and strengthen the capabilities of education support offices.

Additionally, they plan to establish measures to secure the stability of local education finances and improve the special grant system to intensively invest finances in educational recovery such as support for learning loss and alleviation of childcare burdens.

Furthermore, to clarify the legal basis for the subjects and authority of curriculum organization and operation, they resolved to amend related laws to systematize the terms "National Curriculum," "Regional Curriculum," and "School Curriculum" as legal terminology.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "The Ministry of Education and provincial and metropolitan offices of education must work together to strengthen education autonomy and realize school democracy through joint efforts including revisions of related laws."