Seoul Provides 300,000 Won 'Enrollment Preparation Fund' for Middle School 1st and High School 1st Graders... Usable for Uniforms and Tablets

If applied through the school, 300,000 KRW per person will be provided
Can be used to purchase daily clothes other than school uniforms, tablets, or laptops
Jointly funded by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, Seoul City, and autonomous districts

Parents and students visiting the '2019 Seodaemun-gu School Uniform Sharing Market' held at Seodaemun-gu Office in Seoul on the 25th are looking over school uniforms. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will provide 300,000 KRW as an entrance preparation fund to new middle and high school students entering school this year, the first such initiative nationwide. This fund can be used not only for school uniforms but also for everyday clothes and smart devices needed for remote classes.

On the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that, in cooperation with Seoul city and autonomous districts, it will provide 300,000 KRW per student to those entering public, national, private middle and high schools, special schools, and various other schools within the jurisdiction. Schools will support uniform purchases by receiving applications from students or parents or provide the amount as Zero Pay points.

The Office of Education expanded the support scope to everyday clothes and smart devices, considering that the free uniform policy was unfair to students at schools with uniform autonomy. The entrance preparation fund can be used for uniforms, everyday clothes, sportswear, daily wear, and smart devices (tablet PCs or laptops). The 300,000 KRW per student will be paid in February to those who apply.

Scope and Usage of Admission Preparation Fund Purchase

If the fund is used for uniforms purchased through school-organized procurement, the school will process it as uniform expenses. For clothing for school attendance other than school-organized uniforms or smart devices, the provided points can be paid via Zero Pay. Since Zero Pay cannot be provided to those under 14, for middle school students, the fund will be given to their parents. The same amount of 300,000 KRW per person will be supported as Zero Pay points to youths entering 56 unlicensed alternative education institutions reported to Seoul city.

Approximately 136,700 new middle and high school students in Seoul will receive a total of 41.6 billion KRW. The education office covers 50% of the budget, Seoul city 30%, and autonomous districts 20%.

The Office of Education stated, "With the implementation of the entrance preparation fund policy, we have established an equal welfare support system without blind spots for the target group and diversified the purchase scope to expand the choices and convenience for students and parents." They added, "The education office, Seoul city, and autonomous districts will continue to cooperate to ensure the policy operates effectively and strive to make Seoul students happier."

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