Cho Hee-yeon "Sympathizes with Demands for Childcare Center Meal and Snack Fee Support... System Improvement Must Precede"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, expressed sympathy for the demand made by the People Power Party and the Korea Childcare Association to the superintendents of education in 17 cities and provinces nationwide, calling for support for meal and snack expenses for infants and toddlers in daycare centers.

In a statement on the 9th, Superintendent Cho said, "I strongly agree with the fundamental premise that all infants and toddlers attending kindergartens and daycare centers should enjoy universal educational welfare benefits to ensure equality at the starting line," and added, "Now that the integration of kindergarten and daycare has become a common direction beyond party lines, if unintended discrimination occurs, supplementation such as support for meal and snack expenses in daycare centers and kindergartens is necessary in other policies as well."

However, Superintendent Cho noted, "Currently, the laws governing meal and snack provisions for kindergartens and daycare centers differ, as do the managing authorities and funding sources," and added, "For the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to support meal and snack expenses for daycare centers, institutional and administrative-financial arrangements, including establishing a legal basis, must precede."

Currently, kindergarten meals and snacks are regulated under the School Meals Act and the Early Childhood Education Act, while daycare centers follow the Infant Care Act. The managing authorities are the Ministry of Education and metropolitan/provincial offices of education for kindergartens, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments for daycare centers. Regarding funding, kindergarten meals are covered by local education finance grants from education offices and local government subsidies, whereas daycare center childcare fees are funded through the Special Account for Early Childhood Education Support, national treasury, and local government budgets.

Since 2022, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has been cooperating with the Seoul city government and 25 autonomous districts to implement "Eco-friendly Kindergarten Meals" in 763 public and private kindergartens. The Seoul Office of Education plans to increase the implementation rate of eco-friendly kindergarten meals from 40% in 2022 to 70% by 2025.