Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education: "Government Neglects Responsibility by Shifting High School Free Education Costs"

"Special Provision for High School Tuition-Free Education Must Be Extended"

Jeong Geun-sik, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, criticized the government's decision to eliminate support for high school tuition-free education costs as an abandonment of government responsibility.

On the 14th, Superintendent Jeong stated in a press release, "We strongly request the extension of the special provision regarding the burden of high school tuition-free education expenses." He said, "The government's cost-sharing for high school tuition-free education symbolizes the state's responsibility for high school education," adding, "If the entire cost of high school tuition-free education is shifted to local education finances, it constitutes the government's abandonment of its responsibility for education."

Since the Moon Jae-in administration, the government has borne 47.5% of the costs for high school tuition-free education through a special provision under the Local Education Finance Grant Act. The remaining costs were covered by the education office at 47.5% and local governments at 5%. However, the national treasury support was scheduled to expire last year, and on the 31st of last month, a bill to extend the expiration date by three years, led by the opposition party, passed the National Assembly plenary session.

Jung Geun-sik, the newly appointed Superintendent of Education for Seoul, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Jongno-gu Office of Education. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the other hand, the ruling party has proposed requesting the government to reconsider the bill, arguing that "national funding is wasteful." Currently, it is anticipated that Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, will exercise a veto.

In response, Superintendent Jeong explained, "Local education finances rely on external transfer income such as grants and statutory contributions, which directly affect tax revenue conditions, for more than 90% of their income," adding, "Due to the impact of decreased tax revenue after 2023, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education had no choice but to continuously reduce its budget."

He pointed out, "If the amended bill is not implemented, the additional annual burden of approximately 185 billion KRW, previously borne by the state and local governments for high school tuition-free education expenses, will fall on the education office, further exacerbating the financial difficulties of Seoul's education finances," and warned, "If the education office takes on the additional burden of about 185 billion KRW annually, the financial stabilization fund will be depleted within two years, raising concerns about a recurrence of local bond issuance crises as before."

He further emphasized, "Ultimately, the deterioration of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's finances will lead to cuts in budgets for educational environment improvement facilities and student safety, resulting in worsened educational conditions for Seoul students," and reiterated, "Considering the current state of local education finances, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education strongly requests the government to extend the special provision regarding the burden of high school tuition-free education expenses."