Gwangyang City Provides Math Trip Expenses Support for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students, First in Jeonnam

Strengthening Public Education by Supporting Student Fees Beyond Education Office Aid

Expecting Equal Experiential Learning Opportunities and Reduced Parental Education Expenses

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik] Gwangyang City announced that it will be the first local government in Jeollanam-do to provide school trip expenses to elementary, middle, and high school students.

This support aims to assist youth who have been unable to go on school trips due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic by offering diverse and creative educational activities focused on experiential learning.

According to the Jeollanam-do Office of Education, in 2023, school trip expenses of 150,000 KRW per elementary student, 195,000 KRW per middle school student, and 240,000 KRW per high school student will be provided. In 2024, to fulfill Superintendent Kim Daejung’s campaign pledge, these amounts will be increased to 200,000 KRW, 260,000 KRW, and 320,000 KRW respectively, expanding the support for school trip expenses.

Gwangyang City will cover the difference between the 2023 and 2024 support amounts from the Jeonnam Office of Education?50,000 KRW for elementary, 65,000 KRW for middle, and 80,000 KRW for high school students?as school subsidies, reducing the financial burden on students and enabling them to participate in school trips.

The beneficiaries are approximately 4,300 students in the 6th grade of elementary school, 3rd grade of middle school, and 2nd grade of high school within the region who are planning school trips. The city has allocated 279 million KRW in the 2023 education environment improvement project under the universal educational welfare category.

With support from both the provincial education office and city subsidies, schools will be able to implement more diverse and enriched school trip programs, and parents are expected to experience reduced educational expenses.

The city plans to collect demand surveys and project applications for school trip support from schools in March and distribute subsidies to each school in April.

Mayor Jeong Inhwa of Gwangyang said, “We hope that support for school trip expenses will provide quality experiential opportunities for students in the Gwangyang area,” adding, “We will continue to strengthen support for improving the educational environment to realize public education and universal educational welfare.”

This year, Gwangyang City plans to implement education environment improvement projects worth 7.1 billion KRW across 44 programs in 12 fields to diversify curricula and provide tailored student support. Within the universal educational welfare category, 781 million KRW has been allocated for new middle and high school student uniform support and school trip expense support for elementary, middle, and high schools.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seonsik hss79@asiae.co.kr