Promotion of Free Transfer of Closed School Properties in Population Declining Areas
Provincial Offices of Education Say "Like Taking Away Education Office Property"
Ministry of Education and Local Governments Say "Some Schools Cannot Be Utilized"
367 Closed Schools Remain Unused
The issue of utilizing closed school properties, which are increasing nationwide, has become a point of contention between education offices and local governments. As the government pushes to establish a special provision allowing local governments to receive closed school properties in depopulated areas free of charge, education offices are showing reluctance.
On the 24th, a representative from the A region provincial office of education, which includes depopulated areas, told this paper in a phone interview, "In many cases, closed school properties are being used for various educational facilities, but if the method changes to free transfer, there is concern that local governments will utilize them more than the education offices themselves," adding, "There has been no consultation at the education office level."
A representative from the B region education office also said, "We have not received any guidelines," and stated, "Closed school properties fall under the special education expense account and are assets under the jurisdiction of the provincial superintendents of education," expressing opposition by saying, "If the special provision is established, it could infringe on educational autonomy." A representative from the C region education office also said, "We will request amendments to laws such as the Public Property Act and the Local Education Autonomy Act, but it will not be easy to obtain consent from all 17 provincial education offices."
Earlier, on the 18th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced the 'Expansion Plan for Regulatory Exceptions in Depopulated Areas,' which includes such content in cooperation with related ministries. The purpose is to actively respond to the issue of local extinction by promoting practical expansion of exceptions that can be felt on the ground.
Among these, the Ministry of Education announced that it will prepare special provisions to allow local governments in depopulated areas to receive closed school properties free of charge to respond to local extinction. Under the current 'Closed School Property Utilization Act,' closed school properties can be leased free of charge only if they have not been used for more than five years or if the local government head and the superintendent of education have prior consultation.
The plan is to establish a special provision allowing free transfer to local governments after prior consultation between the superintendent of education and the local government head. According to the Ministry of Education, as of March this year, out of 367 unused closed schools nationwide, 243 are in depopulated areas, accounting for 66.2%.
At that time, the Ministry of Education explained, "There is a local autonomy council between education offices and local governments, and sufficient consultation is possible in the council, and there are cases nationwide where properties have been transferred." The atmosphere is also welcoming among local governments. A local government official said, "From the local government's perspective, it is positive," adding, "There are several closed schools in remote areas, not central regions, that are not being utilized."
Nationwide, closed school properties are gradually increasing. According to the status of closed school property utilization by provincial education offices compiled by the Ministry of Education in March this year, there are 3,955 closed schools nationwide, of which 2,609 have been sold, and 1,346 are being used as assets held by education offices. Education offices use closed school properties as educational facilities or lease them for social welfare, cultural, public sports facilities, and income-generating facilities.
However, 367 schools, accounting for 9.2% of all closed schools, remain unused. With the school-age population expected to continue declining and the number of closed schools increasing, education offices and local governments have been struggling to find ways to utilize closed school properties. For this reason, it is reported that some regions have continuously requested that unused closed school properties be allowed to be utilized by local governments.
A Ministry of Education official said, "It is not about handing everything over unconditionally, but the intention is for education offices to use them first and then consult with local governments mainly for places that cannot be utilized," adding, "From the perspective of the relevant area, it is about pursuing the common good."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
