Outline of Deferred Integration Emerges... But On-Site Opposition Leads to Public Hearing Cancellation

Public Hearing Proposal Includes 'Integrated Institution' and 'Teacher Qualification'
Han-eo-chong and Other Groups Oppose... Both Days Canceled

As policy drafts regarding the 'integrated institution' and 'teacher training system,' the biggest issues in the integration of early childhood education and care, have been revealed, a public hearing intended to gather field opinions was canceled due to opposition from organizations. With conflicts continuing between the government and the education and childcare sectors ahead of the implementation of the integration, difficulties in policy promotion are expected.

According to the Ministry of Education on the 17th, the public hearings related to the integration, scheduled for the previous day and that day, were canceled. The hearings were planned to collect opinions from related organizations and parents on policy research results such as types of integrated institutions, admission criteria, and teacher qualifications. However, opposition from childcare sector groups gathered on-site made it difficult to proceed with the hearings, leading to the decision to cancel.

The Korea Childcare Association, which said about 500 members gathered in front of Korea National University of Education where the hearing was to be held, pointed out that there were problems from the start of the hearing process. In a statement, the association said, "The Ministry of Education should have allowed sufficient time before the hearing to disclose the contents in advance so that stakeholders could fully express their opinions. However, the Ministry only released the hearing materials on the evening of last Thursday (the 12th), leaving insufficient time for proper review."

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There was also opposition to the policy research content. A representative from the Korea Childcare Association said, "We are institutions legally established under the Infant Care Act, but if the establishment criteria are overhauled just because the supervising department has shifted to the Ministry of Education, many parts will not fit. After receiving the draft materials, we found many contents unacceptable to us."

According to the 'Standards for Establishment and Operation of Integrated Education and Care Institutions' research plan by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, the 'integrated institution' to be launched under the integration will have different admission methods for children aged 0-2 and 3-5. For ages 0-2, a waiting list and point system similar to existing daycare centers will be applied, while for ages 3-5, a kindergarten-style lottery system will be used, allowing up to four preferences for application. The establishment criteria include five types: national/public, public, general, home-based, and workplace-based. The state, local governments, and corporations can establish integrated institutions, but in the case of home-based and workplace-based types, individuals are allowed to establish them as exceptions.

Regarding another contentious issue, 'teacher qualifications,' a plan to adopt a 'one-track' system centered on a four-year major was proposed. Currently, kindergarten teachers must graduate from an early childhood education department to obtain a certified teacher qualification, while daycare teachers can obtain qualifications through various routes such as related departments or credit bank systems. The proposal is to unify these diverse training processes into a 'four-year face-to-face major department.'

The research team stated, "To secure developmental continuity between ages 0-2 and 3-5 and to provide equally high-quality education and care from the perspective of lifelong foundational education, we propose a unified teacher training system centered on a face-to-face four-year major department that guarantees uniformity and quality improvement of teacher expertise." However, at regional discussions held prior to the public hearing, a plan to separately train infant teachers for ages 0-2 and early childhood teachers for ages 3-5 was also suggested.

The Ministry of Education plans to reschedule the public hearing and resume collecting opinions. The final implementation plan for the integration, which will include the topics to be discussed at the hearing, is expected to be announced after this year. Ministry of Education spokesperson Koo Yeon-hee explained at a regular briefing the previous day, "We intended to announce the comprehensive plan by the end of this year, but the timing may be delayed. This is not due to the impeachment political situation but because further discussion is needed."

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