"Upon Expiration of Special Provisions, Entire 67 Billion Won to Be Borne by Education Office"
Lee Geumseon, a Daejeon city council member, is speaking at the plenary session on the 5th. / Daejeon City Council
Lee Geumsun, a member of the Daejeon City Council (People Power Party, Yuseong-gu 4), proposed a government recommendation urging the revision of the Local Education Finance Grant Act during the 1st plenary session of the 282nd 2nd regular meeting held on the 5th.
The recommendation calls for the amendment of the relevant law as the special provision regarding the cost-sharing for free high school education is set to expire at the end of December.
Since 2020, free high school education costs have been supported for five years under the special provision, with the government covering 47.5%, local governments 5%, and local education offices 47.5%.
However, in the case of Daejeon, if the 52.5% budget previously provided by the government and local governments is discontinued, the entire budget of approximately 67 billion KRW required for free high school education this year will have to be borne solely by the local education office.
The recommendation urges the extension or abolition of the expiration date for the special provision on cost-sharing for free education to ensure the continued implementation of free high school education. It also calls for additional support measures for local education finances so that local governments and education offices can stably promote education welfare policies.
Lee Geumsun emphasized, "Free high school education has played an important role in bridging educational gaps between regions in our society and expanding educational opportunities for low-income families," and added, "Active government-level measures through the revision of the Local Education Finance Grant Act are necessary to ensure the stable implementation of education welfare policies."
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