Seoul City to Provide 300,000 Won 'Entrance Preparation Fund' to New Middle and High School Students This Year

Support for New Student Enrollment Preparation Funds, Equal Support Without Discrimination for New Students at Unlicensed Alternative Education Institutions
Assistance for Purchasing Clothing Such as School Uniforms and PE Uniforms, and Smart Devices Needed for Remote Classes Like Tablet PCs

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that for the first time this year, it will cooperate with 25 autonomous districts and the Office of Education to provide entrance preparation funds to students entering national, public, and private middle and high schools, as well as special and various schools within Seoul.

The entrance preparation funds were introduced to improve the existing free school uniform policy, which did not align with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's comfortable uniform policy direction and had issues such as discrimination against students in autonomous uniform schools.

Students entering schools within Seoul will receive support for uniforms, clothing, and smart devices regardless of income, thereby strengthening the public nature of education and providing universal educational welfare benefits.

The method of providing entrance preparation funds involves each school receiving applications from students (or parents) and supporting uniform purchases or providing Zero Pay mobile points. The purchase scope includes uniforms, daily wear, sportswear, everyday clothing, and smart devices necessary for remote classes. The target number of recipients will be determined based on school applications, with a budget of 300,000 KRW per person planned to be supported in February.

Youth outside of school entering 56 unlicensed alternative education institutions registered with Seoul will also receive 300,000 KRW each in Zero Pay points, regardless of parental income, in the same manner as public education students.

This year, approximately 136,700 new students will enter national, public, and private middle, high (including technical high schools), special, and various schools in Seoul, with a total cost of about 41.6 billion KRW. The funding will be shared by Seoul Metropolitan Government, autonomous districts, and the Office of Education in a 3:2:5 ratio respectively.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government, autonomous districts, and the Office of Education have established an equal welfare support system without blind spots in the target support through the implementation of the entrance preparation fund policy, diversified the purchase scope, and enhanced students' and parents' options and convenience.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "To ensure the entrance preparation fund policy is operated effectively, Seoul Metropolitan Government, autonomous districts, and the Office of Education will continue to cooperate and strive to make Seoul students happier."

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