Ulsan Office of Education to Provide 500,000 KRW per Person for Vocational High School Certificate Acquisition Support Fund

Ulsan Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education will provide a certification acquisition support fund of 500,000 KRW per student using its own resources to support employment for vocational high school students.

Vocational high schools have faced significant difficulties in preparing for employment due to a decrease in certification exam pass rates caused by reduced in-person class days and insufficient practical training hours amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

In response, the Ulsan Office of Education has initiated a 500,000 KRW certification acquisition support fund to help vocational high school students prepare for employment by obtaining job-related certifications and improving their job competencies.

The support fund is available to third-year vocational high school students who have obtained at least one job-related certification and have participated in field training or secured employment.

Under the government's high school graduate employment support policy, third-year vocational high school students who find employment at small and medium-sized enterprises or mid-sized companies receive a 'High School Employment Connection Incentive' of 5 million KRW from the state, conditional on a mandatory one-year employment period.

From this year, third-year vocational high school students in the Ulsan area will receive an additional 500,000 KRW certification allowance, totaling 5.5 million KRW.

A teacher who learned about the program said, "The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has lowered certification acquisition rates, so the establishment of this student certification acquisition support fund is a policy that encourages students," adding, "I will guide students preparing for employment to obtain certifications to enhance their job competencies."

An official from the Office of Education stated, "We hope this will lead to an increase in students' certification acquisition and employment rates, and we will review expanding the support fund and its scope based on this year's program evaluation."