Support for School Trip Expenses vs. Promotion of Additional Points for Local Talent in Civil Service Exams
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] With the June 1 local elections just two days away, the final policy battles among candidates for the Jeonnam Superintendent of Education are intensifying.
On the 29th, candidate Kim Dae-jung promised to expand support for Jeonnam students' school trip expenses and unite the divided Jeonnam Office of Education, which has been fractured by conflicts.
Candidate Kim stated, "We will expand support for school trip expenses to reduce the students' out-of-pocket costs," adding, "The pledge to provide an annual educational basic income of 2.4 million KRW per student stems from the intention to prevent Jeonnam students from leaving due to educational disparities."
Kim emphasized, "Educational basic income must be provided to dispel controversies over the decline in education quality caused by income disparities," and added, "Although some oppose citing legal or budgetary issues, to overcome the crisis of regional extinction and Jeonnam education, we must secure the budget even if it requires revising the law."
He continued, "I will unite the Jeonnam Office of Education, which has been exhausted by investigations and internal conflicts over the past four years, to demonstrate consolidated strength," and reiterated, "I will stop political appointments, embrace all members, create a working atmosphere based on communication and cooperation, and become a superintendent who 'does not give up on a single employee.'"
Candidate Jang Seok-woong also announced a pledge on the same day to promote additional points for local talent in Jeonnam civil servant recruitment and to abolish tuition fees at universities in the Honam region.
Jang said, "Through cooperation with the Jeonnam Provincial Government, we will promote a 'local talent selection system' that grants additional points to candidates from Jeonnam when selecting civil servants," adding, "If the local talent selection system for Jeonnam civil servants is implemented, more job opportunities will be provided to Jeonnam students."
He continued, "To respond to regional extinction and allow local students to attend university without worrying about tuition fees, we will also promote the 'abolition of tuition fees at universities in the Honam region,'" adding, "By simultaneously abolishing tuition fees at Honam regional universities, we will minimize the outflow of local talent."
On the other hand, candidate Kim Dong-hwan has suspended policy announcements after being recently caught by the Jeonnam Election Commission and police for operating an illegal election office.
While candidate Kim is faltering due to this setback, candidates Kim Dae-jung and Jang Seok-woong continue their final policy battles.
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