Busan Office of Education Confirms 2023 Budget of 5.6654 Trillion Won

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education 2023 Budget.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Duyul] The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education confirmed a 2023 budget of 5.6654 trillion KRW at the Busan City Council resolution on the 8th.

The 2023 budget focuses on restoring the core of public education such as improving student academic achievement and character education, and strengthening the future capabilities of Busan students by utilizing future education tools like SW, AI, and coding.

Significant budget allocation will be made for customized learning support to guarantee basic academic skills and improve academic achievement.

The Office of Education allocated 8.6 billion KRW for ‘Hakss?m Doumdatgi’ (Learning Boost) and 4.8 billion KRW for ‘Unit School Academic Competency Enhancement Support,’ operating level-specific programs to enhance school accountability and strengthen public education.

In particular, the ‘Busan Academic Development Institute,’ which will play a central role in academic improvement, is expected to lead students’ future career planning as a comprehensive support center for academic achievement measurement and evaluation, basic academic skill assurance, and career and college entrance guidance.

Various projects will also be promoted for digital education and career education to nurture creative talents for the future society.

Coding education will be conducted to enhance computational thinking and creative problem-solving skills, and 180 AI teaching aid clubs will be operated to foster an AI-based educational culture.

Additionally, 3.9 billion KRW has been allocated for ‘Establishing Digital-Based Early Childhood Play Classrooms’ to support seamless early childhood education.

For career education, 2.3 billion KRW has been allocated for operating career education support centers by district and county, and 400 million KRW for establishing school career activity rooms, supporting customized career planning for students.

A large-scale budget will also be intensively invested to create a safe school environment.

2.124 trillion KRW will be invested in the ‘Green Smart Future School’ project to create future-oriented learning spaces, and 3.285 trillion KRW for improving aging school facility environments.

For children’s safety on their way to and from school, 1.1 billion KRW has been allocated for installing safety devices on all kindergarten school buses and 4.4 billion KRW for supporting school bus safety helpers.

Based on the Busan Office of Education’s own school route safety survey conducted in August this year, traffic safety facilities will be continuously installed in cooperation with the city and districts/counties.

Various projects will be promoted to provide fair educational opportunities to all students, including those from vulnerable groups.

The scope of field trip expenses, currently supported only for low-income students, will be expanded to include 3rd-year middle school and 3rd-year high school students preparing for higher education, with a total investment of 6.7 billion KRW.

Additionally, low-income students will receive actual cost support for school trips ranging from 63,000 KRW to 120,000 KRW, and a new support of 70,000 KRW per student for graduation album fees will be provided.

Meal expenses have been increased by 10% to 257.2 billion KRW through cooperation with Busan City to provide safe food for elementary, middle, and high school students. From next year, 2.9 billion KRW will be spent to provide eco-friendly excellent agricultural products to young children as well.

Furthermore, various projects such as 400 million KRW for Korean language class operation for multicultural students and 8.5 billion KRW for treatment and commuting support for special education students will be implemented to realize the ladder of hope in education.

Budgets will also be intensively invested in arts and cultural education and sports activities to cultivate students’ proper character.

A total of 14.7 billion KRW, including 30,000 to 50,000 KRW per student activity expenses, has been reflected so that kindergarteners and students in the Busan area can enjoy various cultural and artistic experiences.

Excellent school sports club operations and inter-school sports exchange projects have been implemented to enable peer communication and growth through physical activities.

To enhance students’ humanities literacy, 3 billion KRW has been invested to establish electronic libraries in all schools, focusing on support measures to nurture future talents with balanced character.

Ha Yun-su, Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, said, “Next year’s budget focuses on restoring the essence of education such as academic improvement and character cultivation, and expanding the base of educational policies to create Busan education trusted by Busan citizens.” He added, “We will steadfastly promote policies to realize holistic education based on knowledge, virtue, and physical strength, and our vision of ‘Making Dreams a Reality! Hopeful Busan Education.”