Student-Centered Operation...
Strengthening Educational Environment Improvements and More
The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education announced on the 4th that it has submitted the first supplementary budget proposal for 2025 to the Jeonnam Provincial Council, totaling 5.2 trillion won. This represents an increase of 315 billion won (6.4%) compared to the original budget of 4.885 trillion won.
This supplementary budget was prepared to ensure the stable operation of student-centered educational projects and focus on improving the educational environment, despite challenging financial conditions such as a decrease in national tax revenue. The revenue sources consist of 184.8 billion won from central and local government transfers, 16.3 billion won from self-generated income, 1.9 billion won from other sources, and 112 billion won from fund transfers.
The Office of Education minimized unnecessary expenditures to ensure the smooth implementation of essential projects and prioritized budget allocation for the maintenance of aging facilities and improvement of the educational environment over new projects. In particular, it is focusing on creating a more pleasant and safe educational environment, with the core values of guaranteeing students' right to learn and enhancing welfare. The plan is to secure fiscal soundness through efficient budget execution and to concentrate on fulfilling the fundamental purpose of education.
In this supplementary budget, a total of 112 billion won?including 52 billion won from the Integrated Fiscal Stabilization Fund and 60 billion won from the Educational Facility Environment Improvement Fund?will be additionally invested to further modernize and enhance the safety of educational facilities, ahead of the completion of large-scale facility projects such as the establishment and expansion of schools and the Green Smart School initiative.
Specifically, the budget includes: ▲ 24.1 billion won for the "Educational Development Special Zone Project" linked to regional development strategies ▲ 600 million won for the Jeonnam Righteousness Education Project commemorating the 80th anniversary of Liberation ▲ 200 million won for climate change environmental education ▲ 600 million won to support the College Scholastic Ability Test ▲ 700 million won for the operation of the Comprehensive Learning Clinic Center ▲ 700 million won for practical swimming education for first and second grade elementary students.
Additionally, the budget includes: ▲ 300 million won to support international educational and cultural exchange cooperation ▲ 200 million won for the operation of the Glocal New Industry Startup Program, reflecting efforts to expand glocal education.
Budgets for student safety and welfare also stand out. These include: ▲ 300 million won for replacing CCTV around after-school care classrooms ▲ 800 million won for expanding and replacing meal service equipment ▲ 1.3 billion won for school violence prevention education ▲ 400 million won for precocious puberty testing and mental health management ▲ 800 million won for special education welfare support.
Superintendent Kim Daejung stated, "Although the financial situation is difficult due to the slowdown in the increase of local education grant funds following the decrease in national tax revenue and the sunset of free high school education, we will do our best to bridge the educational gap in Jeonnam and establish glocal education."
This supplementary budget proposal is scheduled to be reviewed at the 389th extraordinary session of the Jeonnam Provincial Council, which will be held starting on the 15th.
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