Ministry of Education Allocates 32 Billion KRW in Supplementary Budget to Support Kindergarten Tuition Deficits

Expectations to Ease Related Burdens Such as Special Activity Fees Beyond Tuition

Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye announced on the 17th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the plan to postpone the third reopening of kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. The government stated that the reopening of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide will be postponed for an additional two weeks, from the 23rd of this month to the 6th of next month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Ministry of Education will support private kindergartens by covering tuition fee deficits to reduce the burden on kindergarten parents caused by the delay in school openings due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Education announced the operational plan for the temporary support project for kindergarten operations.

This project was newly established in the supplementary budget for COVID-19 response to alleviate the burden on parents of private kindergarten students who must pay tuition fees despite not being able to attend school. It also aims to support private kindergartens facing management difficulties due to an increase in the number of unregistered children caused by the delayed school opening.

The budget totals 64 billion KRW, consisting of 32 billion KRW from the supplementary budget and 32 billion KRW from the special education expense accounts of 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education. Tuition fee deficits will be supported for private kindergartens that refunded or carried over the fees paid by parents, including tuition, during the five-week closure period.

In addition to tuition fees, burdens related to specialized activity fees, meal and snack fees, textbook and material costs are also expected to be alleviated.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye stated, "We will actively support this based on a consensus that support is necessary for the stable operation of kindergartens, which are the first schools in our children's lives."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.