Resolution on Priority Implementation Tasks for Deferred Integration
The Ministry of Education has announced priority tasks to be implemented for the promotion of the integration of early childhood education and care. The plan includes additional institutional childcare fee support for infants in daycare centers and strengthening care for young children.
On the 13th, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, held the 3rd meeting of the Early Childhood Education and Care Integration Promotion Committee at the Government Seoul Office, where priority tasks and action plans for advancing the integration were reviewed and approved.
At the meeting, Minister Lee explained the agenda, stating, "If related laws such as the Government Organization Act are amended within this year to transfer childcare duties from the Ministry of Health and Welfare to the Ministry of Education, the promotion of integration will proceed more quickly and effectively starting next year."
The Ministry of Education plans to support the development of young children by facilitating program exchanges and improving facilities between kindergartens and daycare centers regionally. Additional institutional childcare fee support will be provided for infants in daycare centers, and meal and snack expenses for preschool children in daycare centers will be additionally supported through leading education offices considering regional conditions. Customized support for children with disabilities will also be strengthened.
Starting in the second half of this year, partial support for preschool tuition fees will be provided regionally through leading education offices, and from next year, additional support for kindergarten tuition fees and daycare center childcare fees (including meal costs) for 5-year-old children will be promoted. Furthermore, hub-type after-school programs linking kindergartens and daycare centers will be operated to strengthen care for young children, and educational programs to assist parents in child-rearing will be conducted.
Education and training for kindergarten and daycare center teachers will be opened in a joint participation format, and on-site customized Nuri Curriculum consulting will be provided for kindergartens and daycare centers. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to amend the "Infant Care Act" to protect daycare center teachers' childcare activities and prepare "Guidelines for Responding to Types of Childcare Activity Violations" within this year.
To unify the management system under the Ministry of Education and metropolitan/provincial offices of education for the integration of early childhood education and care, a four-party (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education, Council of Metropolitan and Provincial Governors) working-level consultative body will be operated, and briefing sessions and joint training will be held for officials in metropolitan/provincial offices of education and local governments.
Additionally, from next year, applications for kindergartens and daycare centers will be available and results can be checked through Government24.
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