Detailed Response to Criticisms of "Causing Increase in Private Education"
Parents Say "Positive Effects"...Supportive Voices Also Emerge
Kim Daejung, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam, expressed his regret and heartache regarding some criticisms that the 'Jeonnam Student Education Allowance' is the cause of increased participation in private education.
On the 20th, Superintendent Kim stated on his Facebook, "I cannot hide my regret over some opinions that dismiss the student education allowance as the cause of rising private education expenses." He explained the purpose of the allowance, saying, "Enrollment in arts and physical education academies cannot be equated with private education in core subjects like Korean, English, and Math, which are often blamed for competitive entrance exams."
Superintendent Kim emphasized, "To reduce private education, we have prohibited the use of the allowance for core subject academies and focused on supporting students' creative and diverse learning experiences." He also mentioned the results of a survey conducted one year after the policy's implementation by the Jeonnam Office of Education, adding, "Overall satisfaction scores were 79.25 points among students and 75.06 points among parents."
Superintendent Kim addressed the criticisms point by point with specific statistics. He stated, "The per capita private education spending in Jeonnam is 320,000 won, the lowest in the country, and much less than the national average of 474,000 won. The participation rate in private education is also 71.7%, the second lowest nationwide, and below the national average of 80.8%." He stressed, "Therefore, it is excessive to blame the increase in private education on the Jeonnam Student Education Allowance."
He explained that the Jeonnam Student Education Allowance goes beyond simple financial support, saying, "It is a policy focused on educational effects such as enabling students to engage in self-directed learning and experiences, as well as providing economic education." He also emphasized, "Since a significant portion of the budget is spent within the Jeonnam region, it also helps revitalize the local economy."
In particular, Superintendent Kim explained the background of the allowance, saying, "It is said that Jeonnam will be the first region to disappear in Korea," and "'The student education allowance was born out of the desperate need to protect our region.'" It is quite unusual for Kim Daejung, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam, to publicly express his views on a specific policy via social media.
Meanwhile, some parents in Jeonnam stated, "Jeonnam has the lowest rate of private education in the country," and "If students can benefit from arts and physical education private education through the allowance, it should definitely be seen as a positive effect."
One parent pointed out, "Parents who advocate for the abolition of private education and criticize its negative effects are actually the ones sending their own children to private academies. In particular, some parents who opposed the student allowance end up sending their children to academies using the very allowance they opposed."
Another parent responded positively, saying that the student allowance was a practical help. The parent said, "The cost of academies was a significant burden due to financial difficulties, but thanks to the student allowance, it helped with academy expenses," and added, "We should also support parents who cannot afford academy fees and students who are marginalized due to economic reasons."
They further stated, "If the allowance is not given to families who oppose it and is only available to parents who want it, it would also reduce concerns about fairness."
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