[Inside Chodong] Why Neulbom School Participation Is Lowest in Seoul

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 2nd Neulbom School Inter-Ministerial Support Headquarters meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong Special Self-Governing City on the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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On the 6th, President Yoon Suk-yeol personally presided over the 'Neulbom School Inter-Ministerial Support Headquarters Meeting' at the Government Complex Sejong, stating, "Neulbom School is now a national task that cannot be reversed," and instructed, "All ministries must cooperate with the mindset that this is 'my responsibility' to ensure unconditional success." Since Neulbom School is the core of the national care system, all ministries are urged to work together to increase participation rates.

But what is the reality? Among 604 public and private elementary schools in Seoul, only 38 schools, or just 6.3%, are participating in Neulbom School in the first semester. This is the lowest participation rate nationwide. President Yoon may have been surprised by this low figure. While Neulbom School needs to be quickly established, Seoul, where strong support was expected, is recording the lowest rate in the country. It may be frustrating to wonder why participation is low when elementary students are cared for at school from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some blame the collective opposition of teachers who fear increased workload.

Parents know the answer. They are uncertain whether Neulbom School can be a groundbreaking alternative beyond the existing care classrooms. Looking at the programs offered by Neulbom School pilot schools, they are just replicas of the usual care classrooms. Children who finish regular classes early move to care classrooms and receive guidance from teachers, but it is difficult to expect quality education within the framework of care rather than formal education.

Despite the dedication of care teachers, care classrooms have long since degenerated into mere programs to pass time due to structural limitations such as lack of funding. There is no incentive for parents, who have directly experienced these limitations by sending their children to care classrooms, to turn back to Neulbom School.

The lowest participation rate of Neulbom School in Seoul is the result of a combination of strong opposition from teachers and the unique regional characteristics of Seoul. Seoul's total fertility rate was 0.55 last year, the lowest among the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces nationwide. On the other hand, in 2022, the average monthly private education expenditure per student was 596,000 won, the highest in the country. The British BBC stated, "In Korea, not participating in private education is considered leading a child to failure, making it unimaginable in the fiercely competitive Korean society."

In Seoul, where soaring housing costs and societal pressure to compete prevail, parents are more likely to choose private academies over Neulbom School, which costs less, even if it strains their finances. No parent would want to push a first grader, who just entered elementary school, into a relentless cycle of private academies. However, the competitive mindset that their child cannot fall behind also influences education, leading parents to reluctantly choose the lesser evil. This process further deepens educational polarization.

For Neulbom School to become the core of the national care system, the government must directly understand the hearts of parents and children. Simply extending care hours or forcing sacrifices from teachers will not solve this issue. It is urgently necessary to design programs so that children enjoy their after-school time, improve the quality of care so that parents choose Neulbom School, and enhance the treatment of responsible teachers. We hope President Yoon Suk-yeol will show insight.

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