Student Customized Support Act Set for First Implementation, but Fact-Finding Survey Budget Cut by 37%

Budget Cut from 930 Million to 582 Million Won
Kim Moonsu: "Budgetary Support Needed Before Law Takes Effect"

The "Student Customized Integrated Support Act," which aims to provide comprehensive support for each student's learning, welfare, and health, is set to take effect next year. However, the budget for related fact-finding surveys has actually been reduced.

Kim Munsu legislator.

According to the 2026 budget proposal submitted by the government to the National Assembly on November 3, the Ministry of Education's budget for the "Student Customized Support Fact-Finding Survey" has been cut from 930 million won this year to 582 million won next year, a decrease of 37.4%. This budget is part of the "Basic Educational Statistics Survey Management" program and is intended to cover the costs of surveys needed to establish a customized student support system.

The Ministry of Education announced plans to establish a student customized integrated support system in 2022, and the National Assembly passed the "Student Customized Integrated Support Act" in December last year. The law is scheduled to take effect in March next year, at the start of the new school year, and its main purpose is to provide integrated support for students' issues in learning, welfare, health, career, and counseling both inside and outside of school.

The Ministry of Education has been conducting pilot surveys since 2023, and had planned to launch a full-scale survey next year in line with the implementation of the law. However, with the budget cut for next year, the project is expected to face setbacks.

The reason for the budget cut stems from the results of the fiscal project self-assessment. The "Basic Educational Statistics Survey Management" program received a "Needs Improvement" rating in the 2025 (2024 fiscal year) self-assessment, leading to a budget reduction. Although the total score was 91.6 points, the program was rated on a relative scale. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance guidelines, projects rated as "Needs Improvement" must have their budgets reduced by at least 10%. As a result, the budget for "Basic Educational Statistics Survey Management" was cut, which in turn led to a reduction in the budget for the "Student Customized Support Fact-Finding Survey" subproject.

However, the budget reduction due to the fiscal assessment only applies at the government proposal stage. It is possible for the budget to be increased during the National Assembly's review process, depending on the budget situation and consensus among lawmakers.

Assemblyman Kim Moonsu of the National Assembly Education Committee (Democratic Party of Korea, Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye-gap) stated, "Although the government proposal was reduced according to Ministry of Economy and Finance guidelines, I will work to ensure that the budget for the fact-finding survey is increased during the National Assembly's review, as it marks the starting point for implementing the system." He added, "Until now, the fact-finding survey has only been conducted as a pilot, but starting next year, with the implementation of the law, both the scope and the number of survey targets will be greatly expanded. Budgetary support is essential for the successful establishment of the system."

Previously, when the law was passed in December last year, the Ministry of Education expressed optimism, stating, "A legal foundation has been established for an integrated support system that enables not only teachers but also schools, education offices, and local governments to work together to provide customized support tailored to each student's situation by identifying the various difficulties students face at an early stage."

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