Gwangju Education Superintendent Candidate Lee Jeong-seon Promotes Fully Free Early Childhood Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Lee Jeong-seon, a preliminary candidate for Gwangju Superintendent of Education, on the 27th pointed out the amateurish and poor administration of the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education regarding the Supreme Court ruling that ordered the return of kindergarten operating expenses recovered by the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, and announced that one of the measures to achieve zero burden on parents is to promote ‘completely free education for early childhood education institutions.’

The candidate Lee said, “The audit and administrative enforcement against private kindergartens, which were pushed forward excessively by the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, caused confusion and conflict in the early childhood education field in Gwangju,” and “This is a deplorable situation that vividly shows the reality of 12 years of Gwangju education under Superintendent Jang Hwi-guk, who showed a dichotomous and divisive attitude.”

He continued, “What is demanded on the ground is to create an environment where all members of the Gwangju education family can devote themselves to children without distinguishing between public and private,” and emphasized, “It is necessary to respect the diversity and autonomy of private educational institutions while having flexibility and inclusiveness to ensure publicness and accountability.”

In addition, candidate Lee proposed early childhood education policies including ▲ promotion of 100% complete free education for early childhood, ▲ realization of free meals and snacks for early childhood, ▲ development and distribution of early childhood development (mental health) tests and support programs, ▲ establishment of special schools for young children, ▲ placement of early childhood supervisors in regional education offices, ▲ expansion of substitute teachers and wage support for private kindergartens, ▲ mandatory national education training for workers by the education office, and ▲ efforts to realize equal support for public and private kindergartens and daycare centers.

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