Lee Jae-tae, Jeonnam Provincial Council Member: "Free High School Education Should Not Be Shifted to the Office of Education"

"Education is a National Responsibility...
National Funding Must Be Provided"

Lee Jaetae, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Naju 3), urged the government to withdraw its refusal to extend national funding for free high school education during the 387th extraordinary session on the 5th.

Lee stated, "Free high school education is an essential policy to realize the fundamental right to education guaranteed by the Constitution. The state must take responsibility to ensure that all students have equal educational opportunities without financial burden." He continued, "The government should extend the national funding maintained until 2024 and establish stable financial support measures to ease the burden on local education offices."

Jaetae Lee, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member.

Free high school education, which has been introduced in phases since 2019, was expanded to all grades in 2021. However, there are concerns that the national funding, which is temporarily applied until 2024, will be reduced starting in 2025.

Lee strongly criticized, "If the government suspends national funding, it will increase the financial burden on local education offices and directly harm students and parents. This runs counter to the policy goals of realizing educational equity and public interest."

He further warned, "The increased burden on local education finances could significantly deepen educational disparities between regions. It is unfair for local governments to shoulder all the necessary funding to maintain the public nature of education. This will limit students' educational opportunities and lower the quality of basic educational services for which the state is responsible."

He emphasized, "Free high school education is not merely a welfare policy but a national investment for the future. The government should not shift the burden onto local education offices but instead establish proactive support measures."

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