[Initial Perspective] Care Is About Quality, Not Quantity

by Seo Sojeong

Published 01 Sep.2021 12:01(KST)

Deputy Minister of the 4th Industrial Revolution Department

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] "After-school care classrooms open until 7 p.m." The Democratic Party primary candidate Lee Jae-myung announced the implementation pledge of the ‘5 Major National Care Responsibility System’ on the 30th of last month, sparking heated controversy among parents. The intention is to provide after-school care for elementary students at schools until 7 p.m. to fill the care gap for dual-income and low-income families, but the prevailing criticism is that it is a ‘desk-bound pledge’ made without listening to voices from the field. The issue lies not in the ‘quantity of care’ but in the ‘quality of care.’

A dual-income couple with a first grader in elementary school in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, said, "At first, we were relieved to hear that the care classroom would operate until 5 p.m., but after sending our child, our disappointment grew," adding, "Parents disappointed with the quality of care are switching from care classrooms to private education."

A parent who used the school’s emergency care during last summer vacation because they could not find someone to look after their child said, "I was shocked to learn that my child only watched YouTube without any other activities during care time," and appealed, "I hope people understand the truth that increasing care hours alone with time-filling care does not resolve the care gap." Ultimately, parents disappointed with the quality of care end up relying on private education, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Low-income children are often left unattended in classrooms under the name of ‘care.’

Schools also have much to say. As social distancing levels were raised due to COVID-19, demand for care surged, but since care positions are filled by low-paid volunteers, schools lament that they cannot provide quality care. Some schools struggling to hire care teachers have even issued notices asking parents to refrain from using care classrooms unless there is a very special reason.

The greatest hardship for dual-income couples comes when their child enters the first grade of elementary school. Since first graders finish school hours several hours earlier than daycare centers or kindergartens, parents who cannot fill the care gap turn to private education to solve the problem. Women’s career breaks also coincide with their child’s elementary school entrance. ‘Working mothers,’ who have endured numerous childcare difficulties, end up submitting resignation letters because they cannot fill the care gap.

Especially as the COVID-19 crisis has continued for two years, the number of women experiencing career breaks due to childbirth and childcare barriers is increasing. According to a survey by the Employment Committee based on the Statistics Korea’s Economically Active Population Survey, the employment rate of women with elementary school children decreased by 2.7 percentage points from 61.2% to 58.5% between March last year and February this year. The burden of emergency care due to COVID-19 has further prevented women with elementary school children from returning to work.

In Germany, which has succeeded in reversing the birthrate decline, there is a Hort for dual-income families and others. After school ends, children enjoy various activities such as playing musical instruments, sports, and art according to their preferences. Depending on the teacher’s discretion, they also engage in nature learning or special activities like theater. Although Korea’s birthrate hit a historic low of 0.84 last year, the government’s support measures remain meager. The presidential race has officially begun. We hope candidates will compete with pledges that penetrate the essence of the problem, not populism aimed at winning votes.