National, Public, and Private Elementary Schools, Including Out-of-School Youth Choosing Alternative Education, Benefit a Total of 70,000
Zero Pay Mobile Points Used for Daily Clothing Needed for School Attendance, Purchase of School-Recommended Books, and More
As the government decided to strengthen social distancing measures again, students are attending school near an elementary school in Seoul on the 17th, the day it was announced that all schools in the metropolitan area and large schools and overcrowded classes in non-metropolitan areas will suspend full in-person attendance starting from the 20th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will provide 200,000 KRW as an enrollment preparation fund to all new students entering elementary school starting this year. Approximately 70,000 beneficiaries are expected, including new students entering national, public, and private elementary schools within Seoul, special schools in Seoul, as well as out-of-school youth who have chosen alternative education instead of public education.
According to Seoul City on the 5th, the city decided to provide 200,000 KRW enrollment preparation funds to about 69,800 new students entering national, public, and private elementary schools and about 70 new students at 58 unlicensed alternative education institutions registered with Seoul City. This is an additional support measure following last year’s nationwide first provision of 300,000 KRW enrollment preparation funds to all new students entering national, public, and private middle and high schools. As a result, all elementary, middle, and high school students entering schools in Seoul will receive enrollment preparation funds. The total budget required is approximately 14 billion KRW, which will be shared by Seoul City, autonomous districts, and the education office in a 3:3:4 ratio. For the 58 unlicensed alternative education institutions registered with Seoul City, the entire amount will be funded by the city.
Seoul City expects this to alleviate parents’ educational expenses and strengthen the public nature of education, moving one step closer to realizing universal childcare welfare covering elementary, middle, and high schools. In particular, by providing enrollment preparation funds to all elementary, middle, and high school students, the goal is to establish an equal welfare support system without blind spots.
The support method is through Zero Pay mobile points. Like higher-level schools, each school will receive applications from parents and provide the funds. For alternative education institutions, applications are accepted through the Seoul Out-of-School Youth Support Center. After enrollment in March, applications can be submitted to the school or center, and the enrollment preparation funds can be received in April. When parents apply for the elementary school enrollment preparation fund through the school, the school compiles the list of applicants and submits it to Zero Pay, which then distributes mobile points to the applicants in bulk.
The range of items that can be purchased with the enrollment preparation funds is the same as for middle and high schools. It can be used to buy clothes, bags, shoes necessary for attending school, as well as school-recommended books.
Seoul City plans to continuously cooperate with autonomous districts and the education office to ensure that the elementary school enrollment preparation fund is operated effectively. Lee Dae-hyun, Director of the Seoul Lifelong Education Bureau, said, “In a situation where household finances are difficult due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Seoul City wants to help new students starting their first school life to begin happily, even if just a little.” He added, “Although the amount is small, we hope it will be a foundation for children to nurture their dreams. Seoul City will continue to strive to realize equal educational welfare.”
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