Council of National and Provincial Superintendents of Education: "5.7 Trillion Won Cut in Education Funding This Year Threatens Foundation of Public Education"

General Meeting Held in Andong, Statement Released
"Please Protect Education Funding"

The Council of National and Provincial Superintendents of Education (Chairperson: Kang Eunhee, Superintendent of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education) expressed deep concern over recent discussions on the "reduction of local education funding" at the 103rd general meeting held in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province on July 17. The Council emphasized the need for a cautious approach to ensure the stable operation of public education and to strengthen the state's responsibility.

In its statement, the Council explained, "Local education funding is already facing structural difficulties," adding that government tax revenue declines in both 2023 and 2024 have resulted in a reduction of 18 trillion won in grants, and that in 2025, the expiration of the special provision for free high school education has led to a decrease of 1 trillion won in additional grants."

Superintendents of education from across the country gathered in Andong after concluding their general meeting, appealing together to protect education funding.

Furthermore, the Council noted that the transfer of a portion of the education tax to the Special Account for Higher and Lifelong Education Support has reduced funding by 2.2 trillion won. In addition, the 3.1 trillion won Special Account for Early Childhood Education Support, established in 2017 to ensure the stable implementation of the Nuri Curriculum, is set to expire at the end of this year. The Council also expressed concern that if the National Council of Governors' ongoing demand to halve the statutory transfer rates of local education tax (7.5 trillion won) and provincial and municipal taxes (3.9 trillion won) is realized, education funding nationwide could decrease by 5.7 trillion won in 2025, further exacerbating difficulties in the field.

The Council also stated, "Arguments that education funding should be reduced proportionally due to the declining school-age population do not properly reflect the actual educational conditions schools are facing." The Council emphasized, "Even though the number of students is decreasing, the need for comprehensive and detailed support for each individual student in both education and welfare is actually increasing."

The Council of National and Provincial Superintendents of Education stated, "Education funding in Korea has long been built on an institutional foundation operated under state responsibility, and various transfer systems, including the education tax, have provided practical support for this." The Council requested, "We urge the National Assembly and the government to clearly guarantee the legal status of local education funding and to pursue related policies with greater caution so that the foundation of public education is not undermined."