Creating a "Happy Gyeongnam, Schools Where Learning Is Enjoyable" Together
Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su (right) and Gyeongnam Superintendent of Education Park Jong-hoon reached a final agreement on the cost-sharing ratio and unit price increase for school meal expenses at the 2022 Gyeongsangnam-do Education Administration Council regular meeting.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province and Superintendent Park Jonghun of Gyeongnam Office of Education reached a final agreement on the funding sharing ratio and unit price increase for school meal expenses at the 2022 Gyeongsangnam-do Education Administration Council regular meeting held on the 27th.
The Gyeongnam Education Administration Council is a cooperative body where the province and the Office of Education jointly resolve educational issues and provide high-quality educational services to residents through cooperation and coordination of education projects carried out by each institution.
At this regular meeting, Gyeongnam Province and the Office of Education agreed on ▲adjusting the funding sharing ratio for school meal expenses for the next year ▲increasing the unit price of food cost support ▲and the formulation of the special education account expenditure budget.
According to the province, the increase in the unit price of food cost support was proposed at the market and county heads policy meeting in July due to the increased financial burden on cities and counties.
Accordingly, the province and the Office of Education held several consultations since August and went through three working-level meetings.
Subsequently, at the working-level meeting on the 21st, it was decided that the 2023 school meal expenses would be shared by the province, cities/counties, and the Office of Education at a ratio of 20:30:50, and the meal unit price would be increased by about 380 KRW, a 12% rise compared to the previous year.
Both institutions anticipated that through this, they would be able to provide students with high-quality meals by prioritizing the use of local agricultural products.
At this Education Administration Council meeting, the province and the Office of Education agreed to strengthen educational cooperation and work together to resolve educational issues to increase the satisfaction of students, parents, and residents and to achieve a "Happy Gyeongnam, Schools Enjoying Learning."
Both institutions announced that they would change the method of promoting educational support cooperation projects according to changes in the administrative environment and financial conditions.
They agreed to continue cooperating on the Gyeongnam Small School Revitalization Project and city/county education cooperation projects, while the Office of Education will take charge of the School Space Innovation Project, After-School Free Course Voucher Support Project, Multicultural Student Customized Support Project, and Career Experience Vehicle Support Project starting next year.
They also promised to cooperate so that elementary, middle, and high school students in the province can participate in on-site experiential learning at international events such as the Hadong World Tea Expo and the Sancheong World Traditional Medicine and Anti-Aging Expo to be held next year.
On that day, Governor Park said, "Education is one of the biggest areas of interest for residents," and added, "We will cooperate with the Office of Education to meet residents' expectations regarding educational issues, including providing high-quality meals."
Superintendent Park said, "Our Office of Education and the provincial government have been carrying out various educational cooperation projects such as joint responses to COVID-19 and small school revitalization," and added, "We will continue to create the future of education in Gyeongnam together based on broad communication and empathy."
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