Gyeongbuk Office of Education Increases Next Year's Budget by 15.8% Compared to This Year... Allocates 5.9229 Trillion Won

Gyeongbuk Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] The Gyeongbuk Office of Education submitted the next year's main budget bill to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council on the 15th, requesting review after drafting it at 5.9229 trillion won, which is a 15.8% increase from this year's original budget.

The basic direction for drafting next year's main budget by the Gyeongbuk Office of Education focused on students and school sites, including closing the educational gap caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, establishing an educational safety net to strengthen student safety, and building an educational environment foundation for operating future-oriented curricula.

Next year, the budget for supporting free school meals for students increased by 57 billion won compared to this year. Until now, the education office has fully borne personnel and operating costs, while food costs were shared with the education office covering 60%, Gyeongbuk Provincial Government 12%, and basic local governments 28%, totaling 40%. However, from 2023, the education office will bear 80%, a 20% increase from this year, which led to a 20% increase in the unit price of food costs compared to this year.

Major projects for 2023 include allocating 30.9 billion won for responsible guidance of students with basic learning difficulties, 14.8 billion won for revitalizing mathematics education, 2.8 billion won for emotional and behavioral development support, and 4.6 billion won for supporting student training activities to close the educational gap caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, to realize a demand-centered future-oriented education system, 365.9 billion won has been allocated to the Green Smart School project, which is a future-oriented classroom.

Superintendent Lim Jong-sik said, “Next year's main budget focuses on educational recovery to restore school sites, which have been contracted due to COVID-19, back to their former daily life, and on introducing future-oriented curricula and educational environments to prepare for future society.”

The submitted budget bill is expected to be finalized at the plenary session on December 12 after review by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Council's Education Committee and the Budget and Accounts Committee.

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