Up to 300,000 Won Per Student in Support
Students Say "Welcome," Teachers Say "Increased Workload"
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has launched a program to provide financial support for high school seniors to obtain licenses such as driver’s licenses and other certifications. However, teachers have voiced strong opposition, calling it a “waste of taxpayers’ money.” They argue that there is already a budget in place to support young people in obtaining driver’s licenses, and that the program only increases the administrative burden on teachers who are already overwhelmed with responsibilities such as college admissions.
According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education on September 3, for the first time, a reimbursement program is being implemented for all high school seniors in the Gyeonggi region, including those at special and alternative schools, to cover costs related to obtaining certifications such as driver’s licenses, language proficiency, and the Korean History Proficiency Test. Each student can receive support for one certification, up to a maximum of 300,000 won.
The program, previously available only to students at vocational high schools, has now been expanded to include all types of high schools, including general, autonomous, and specialized schools. A preliminary survey conducted earlier this year among high school seniors in the region found that out of 122,333 students, 88,575 (72.4%) expressed interest in participating in the program.
Of these, 72,751 students (82.1%) indicated a preference for obtaining a driver’s license, followed by 4,430 students (5%) for language certifications, 1,772 students (2%) for the Korean History Proficiency Test, and others for various certifications.
However, some teachers have voiced concerns about the waste of public funds and the increased administrative workload. They have also raised suspicions that the program may be politically motivated ahead of next year’s local elections.
The Gyeonggi Teachers’ Union held a press conference at the National Assembly on September 3, stating, “Since driver’s licenses can only be obtained by those aged 18 or older, even high school seniors must have already reached their birthday to be eligible. Furthermore, Gyeonggi Province has already allocated a budget of 20 billion won to support driver’s license acquisition for young people aged 19 and above. Nevertheless, using this budget for high school seniors is highly inefficient and lacks educational relevance.”
The union added, “Moreover, this is a critical and urgent period as students are registering for the College Scholastic Ability Test and preparing for early admissions. Homeroom teachers for seniors are already pressed for time with college counseling and job guidance, and now they are being saddled with additional work related to driver’s licenses. Teachers’ time and capabilities are being wasted on administrative work.”
They also questioned whether the timing of next year’s local elections may have influenced the decision to launch this program.
In response, an official from the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education explained, “This program is intended to help high school seniors develop the skills they need for a smooth transition into society after graduation. Driver’s licenses are the most commonly obtained certification among students between the College Scholastic Ability Test and university entrance, and the preliminary survey also showed the highest demand for this qualification. The program has no connection to the elections.”
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