EDUCATION SUBSIDIES FOR STUDENTS

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Starting next year, those entering Middle School and High School in Seoul including special secondary schools will stand to receive 300,000 won to help them get ready for school. The city government's across-the-board subsidy is expected to lessen the parents' financial burden and expand universal educational welfare

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Starting next year, rising 7th and 10th graders in Seoul will stand to receive 300,000 won to help them get ready for school. The city government's across-the-board subsidy is expected to lessen the parents' financial burden and expand universal educational welfare. In South Korea, a recent survey shows eight out of ten parents with school-age children feel financial burden when a new school year begins. They spend an average of about 500,000 won for school uniforms, study materials, and private lessons.

[Soundbite] KANG HYE-JIN(PARENT IN SEOUL) : "The largest expense for middle and high school would be uniforms. Since they study a lot, I would have to spend more on study materials."

The Seoul Association of Mayors and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education decided tentatively to grant financial support so as to ease the financial load on parents, starting next year. Recipients will be freshmen of middle and high schools living in Seoul as well as special secondary schools located in the capital. The subsidy will be paid regardless of family income. The money will likely help them purchase school and gym uniforms, study materials, and smart devices like tablet PCs to facilitate remote learning. The subsidy amount is set at 300,000 won for now, but it may change with inflation. Since the subsidy can be spent only in certain establishments, the money is highly likely to be paid through the 'zero pay' system, a payment service for small businesses. Some local governments assist incoming students with free uniforms or recipient-specific financial subsidies, but Seoul is the first city to subsidize all students entering 7th and 10th grades. Based on 2019 figures, about 140,000 students stand to benefit from this program requiring some 43 billion won in budget. The districts of Seongdong-gu and Gwanak-gu recently notified that the ordinance plan will go into effect on January 1, 2021. The Seoul city government, concerned about the funding at first, came on board as the Seoul District Office of Education adjusted other budgets.
Now the subsidy program stands to be implemented in all 25 districts in Seoul. The Seoul city government, district offices, and the Seoul District Office of Education plan to first fix how the total amount will be shared and then make an official announcement. But the plan must be reviewed and approved by the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the central government's Social Security Committee before the money can be paid out to students next year.