Support for kindergarten kids to rise from next year

The Korean government will increase its tuition support for children between the age of three and five starting next year. The Education Ministry on Monday announced its five-year plan focusing on the development of children’s education.

Some kindergarteners walk around their kindergarten in Seoul on Monday. [YONHAP]

The Korean government will increase its tuition support for children between the age of three and five starting next year.

The Education Ministry on Monday announced its five-year plan focusing on the development of children’s education.

The plan aims to offer thorough education and care for children after taking into account the declining number of infants and the merger of kindergartens and daycares, the ministry said.

The number of kindergarteners is anticipated to decrease by 32 percent from 2022's total by 2027.

According to the ministry, the plan includes increasing tuition support for kindergarteners starting with five-year-olds next year, four-year-olds in 2025 and three-year-olds in 2026.

The increased amount will be decided after discussions with an Education Ministry committee promoting the merger of kindergartens and daycare as well as different education offices.

Currently, the government subsidizes up to 280,000 won ($210) per child regardless of the kindergarten they go to. Parents need to pay the remainder.

Based on last April's data, parents who sent their children to private kindergartens had to pay 167,880 won on average, while those who sent their children to public kindergartens paid only 7,694 won on average.

The government will gradually cover more of the bill for after-school activities, too, the ministry said.

The government currently covers 50,000 won for public kindergartens and 70,000 won for private kindergartens for after-school activities.

“We will substantially reduce the tuition pressure on parents, including those who send their children to private kindergartens,” said an official from the ministry.

“The 15-trillion-won budget for children’s education and care will be maintained while the additional cost will be covered by local education offices.”

The ministry added it will ensure all children participate in after-school programs by deploying appropriate personnel to each program starting in 2025.

Some 99 percent of all kindergartens across the country operated after-school classes last year, while around 89 percent of kindergarteners participated in these programs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho visits a kindergarten in Songpa District, southern Seoul on Feb. 6. [NEWS]

Kindergartens will be operated more flexibly, according to the ministry.

Starting next year, kindergartens that wish to can start their classes at 8 a.m. This caters to working parents’ high demand for classes to start early, as they normally start at 9 a.m.

According to the ministry’s data, 49 percent of children arrived at their kindergartens before 8:30 a.m. last year, while 84.4 percent of kindergartens nationwide started their classes after 9 a.m.

Class content will be more diversified since many students go to private kindergartens, including so-called English kindergartens, for advanced learning. Around 69 percent of children in the country go to private kindergartens.

“The ministry will make sure thorough support will be offered for kindergarteners and their parents," Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said Monday.

BY LEE HOO-YEON,CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]