Ministry of Education's Central Investment Deliberation Committee 'School Establishment Approval Rate' Incheon 57%... Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik "Central Investment Deliberation Committee Needs Improvement"

Ministry of Education and Incheon Office of Education Hold Meeting on Improving Educational Environment in Incheon Old Downtown on the 8th
Ministry of Education: "Establishment of Small Schools Decided by City and Provincial Offices of Education Review"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hye-sook Park] Amid concerns that the pace of school establishment is slowing down, it has been decided that in the future, the establishment of small-scale schools and the relocation or consolidation of schools within the jurisdiction of the superintendent of education can be determined through the city/provincial education office's own investment review.

On the morning of the 8th, Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Jong-sik (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol District) held a 'Policy Meeting for Improving the Educational Environment in Incheon Old Downtown' with the Ministry of Education and Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, and discussed the plan to transfer the authority for new and expanded school establishment from the Ministry of Education to the city/provincial education offices.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education to Lawmaker Heo's office, the approval rate for school establishment projects that underwent the Ministry of Education's central investment review over the past five years (2018-2022) was 61.9% nationwide.

On the other hand, in the Incheon area, a total of 56 cases were submitted to the central investment review during the same period, but 24 cases (42.8%) were rejected or received notifications of inappropriateness or re-examination.

While the school-age population is decreasing, Incheon is slower in establishing schools compared to the national average, resulting in underpopulated school issues in the old downtown and overcrowded school problems in the new town.

Lawmaker Heo emphasized, "Projects aimed at improving educational conditions such as new school establishment, relocation, and consolidation are not being carried out in a timely manner, so it is necessary to improve the Ministry of Education's central investment review system."

Previously, in July last year, Do Seong-hoon, Superintendent of Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, requested the Ministry of Education to transfer the authority to approve school buildings under 30 billion KRW to the superintendent of education.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Heo Jong-sik (center) is holding a "Policy Meeting for Improving the Educational Environment in Incheon Old Downtown" with officials from the Ministry of Education and Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education on the 8th.
[Photo by Heo Jong-sik's Office]

Wondo-shimha

Chae Hong-jun, Director of the Local Education Finance Division at the Ministry of Education, stated, "We will exclude the Ministry of Education's central investment review for small-scale school establishments with a total project cost under 30 billion KRW and for school relocations or consolidations promoted by the superintendent of education within their jurisdiction."

The criteria for small-scale schools that can be established through the city/provincial education office's own investment review are expected to be a total project cost under 30 billion KRW, with 36 classes for elementary schools and 24 classes for middle and high schools.

Accordingly, it will be possible to accelerate the establishment of schools in medium and small-scale development project areas, which is expected to resolve issues such as overcrowded classes and student commuting safety within the region.

At the meeting, a plan was also discussed to exclude the Ministry of Education's central investment review when public institutions such as local governments, LH, local corporations, or private entities supply school sites and facilities free of charge to the education office or promote school complex facilities.

Lawmaker Heo said, "To establish schools promptly in the 3rd phase new towns in the metropolitan area and large-scale urban development project zones, it is reasonable to grant the authority for school establishment to the city/provincial education offices," adding, "The central investment review system should be improved promptly to realize local educational autonomy."

The Ministry of Education is known to be revising related ordinances and plans to apply the changes as early as the second regular central investment review in April.