Priority Support for Securing Educational Infrastructure in Population Declining Areas
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Seo Dong-yong, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee (Jeonnam Suncheon Gwangyang Gokseong Gurye-eul), proposed a partial amendment to the 「Special Act on Support for Population Declining Areas」 on the 6th to allow educational infrastructure in population declining areas to be secured with priority over other regions.
The current law allows kindergartens and schools in population declining areas to be integrated and operated, and provides special provisions to expand educational infrastructure in these areas by supporting grants under the Local Education Finance Grants Act for improving kindergarten educational conditions and operating curricula.
The educational environment in population declining areas acts as an important factor in preventing population decline, along with childcare, medical care, housing, and transportation conditions, thus requiring more active and specific support.
According to data submitted by the Jeonnam Office of Education to Assemblyman Seo Dong-yong during the recent national audit, the number of middle school teachers was reduced by 279 in 2023.
In Jeonnam, there are 321 public middle and high schools, of which small schools with six or fewer classes account for 48.9% of the total.
Ultimately, if 279 middle school teachers are cut as in Jeonnam, 86.9% of the 321 schools will have to reduce their staff by one teacher each, meaning that small schools with six or fewer classes will also have to reduce their teaching staff by one teacher each.
Especially in Jeonnam, where dependence on public education is high, there are concerns about the decline in the quality of education due to teacher reductions, and normal curriculum operation will become difficult, accelerating the closure of small schools, the collapse of the local educational ecosystem, and regional extinction.
The amendment aims to prevent these problems by prioritizing measures to expand educational infrastructure in population declining areas, such as appropriate teacher allocation, securing necessary educational facilities, maintenance of teaching materials and tools, and free supply of textbooks, and by prioritizing the securing and payment of necessary expenses.
Assemblyman Seo Dong-yong stated, "The educational environment of a region is an important factor in preventing population decline," and added, "If the educational ecosystem collapses due to the lack of guaranteed educational conditions in population declining areas, it may be difficult to revitalize the school ecosystem later even with greater costs."
He continued, "I hope that through this legal amendment, the educational infrastructure in population declining areas will be secured first to prevent the outflow of school-age population and further help prevent population decline."
This amendment was co-proposed by 12 members including Kim Seung-nam, Kim Yong-min, Kim Jeong-ho, Kim Cheol-min, Do Jong-hwan, Moon Jeong-bok, Park Gwang-on, Seo Dong-yong, Shin Jeong-hoon, Ahn Min-seok, Lee Dong-joo, and Jo Oh-seop.
Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr
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