As pressure mounts from the government to reform local education funding, superintendents from 16 provinces across South Korea gathered to issue a statement opposing the proposed cuts. They criticized the government's attempt to reduce education budgets solely based on the declining school-age population, arguing it undermines the constitutional values of education in the country.
The Korea Education Superintendents Association, led by Chairman Jeong Geun-sik, convened an emergency meeting on July 10 at their headquarters in Sejong to announce their commitment to protecting local education funding for the stable development of future education.
This emergency meeting was organized following a discussion on funding reforms held by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on July 8, ahead of a national fiscal strategy meeting scheduled for mid-July.
Currently, two main proposals for funding reform are under discussion within the government. The Ministry of Education is considering maintaining the current 20.79% linkage rate to national tax revenues while setting a cap on excess funds to be allocated to other sectors such as higher education and early childhood education.
In contrast, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance is pushing for a more aggressive reduction plan that would eliminate the 20.79% linkage system altogether, recalibrating funding based on economic growth rates and changes in the school-age population.
Before the meeting, Chairman Jeong expressed a grave sense of urgency, stating, "The funding system that has supported public education in South Korea for over 50 years is at a critical turning point."
He noted, "While the number of students is decreasing, the responsibilities of public education are increasing in areas such as basic skills, mental health, special education, multicultural education, digital transformation, and integrated early childhood education. Instead of cutting education funding, we need to expand and redesign it to meet future educational needs."
In their statement, the association directly criticized the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's attempts to change the funding calculation method. They emphasized, "Education is not merely a matter of financial efficiency; it concerns the autonomy of education as outlined in Article 31 of the Constitution. If the funding calculation method is subject to the discretionary judgment of financial authorities each year, the stability of education funding will inevitably depend on the state of national finances that year."
Regarding the argument of a declining school-age population, they stated, "Just as we cannot simply reduce defense spending because of a decrease in military personnel, using the declining school-age population as a direct justification for cutting education funding oversimplifies the complex realities of education." They called for the stable maintenance of the 20.79% tax revenue linkage rate.
The association also countered claims for increased investment in early childhood and higher education, asserting that local education offices are already investing significant resources in these areas. They welcomed the government's direction to expand investments in early childhood, higher, and lifelong education but insisted that this should not undermine the 20.79% linkage rate. They stressed that if the scope of responsibility is to be broadened to include early childhood, out-of-school youth, and higher and lifelong education, a national consensus on authority and funding must precede it.
Finally, the association noted, "Voices from teacher and parent organizations are already coalescing against the funding reform," urging the government to maintain the current 20.79% tax revenue linkage rate, establish practical consultation procedures with local education offices regarding funding reforms, and prioritize the intrinsic values of education over financial efficiency in decision-making.
The Korea Education Superintendents Association, led by Chairman Jeong Geun-sik, convened an emergency meeting on July 10 at their headquarters in Sejong to announce their commitment to protecting local education funding for the stable development of future education.
This emergency meeting was organized following a discussion on funding reforms held by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on July 8, ahead of a national fiscal strategy meeting scheduled for mid-July.
Currently, two main proposals for funding reform are under discussion within the government. The Ministry of Education is considering maintaining the current 20.79% linkage rate to national tax revenues while setting a cap on excess funds to be allocated to other sectors such as higher education and early childhood education.
In contrast, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance is pushing for a more aggressive reduction plan that would eliminate the 20.79% linkage system altogether, recalibrating funding based on economic growth rates and changes in the school-age population.
Before the meeting, Chairman Jeong expressed a grave sense of urgency, stating, "The funding system that has supported public education in South Korea for over 50 years is at a critical turning point."
He noted, "While the number of students is decreasing, the responsibilities of public education are increasing in areas such as basic skills, mental health, special education, multicultural education, digital transformation, and integrated early childhood education. Instead of cutting education funding, we need to expand and redesign it to meet future educational needs."
In their statement, the association directly criticized the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's attempts to change the funding calculation method. They emphasized, "Education is not merely a matter of financial efficiency; it concerns the autonomy of education as outlined in Article 31 of the Constitution. If the funding calculation method is subject to the discretionary judgment of financial authorities each year, the stability of education funding will inevitably depend on the state of national finances that year."
Regarding the argument of a declining school-age population, they stated, "Just as we cannot simply reduce defense spending because of a decrease in military personnel, using the declining school-age population as a direct justification for cutting education funding oversimplifies the complex realities of education." They called for the stable maintenance of the 20.79% tax revenue linkage rate.
The association also countered claims for increased investment in early childhood and higher education, asserting that local education offices are already investing significant resources in these areas. They welcomed the government's direction to expand investments in early childhood, higher, and lifelong education but insisted that this should not undermine the 20.79% linkage rate. They stressed that if the scope of responsibility is to be broadened to include early childhood, out-of-school youth, and higher and lifelong education, a national consensus on authority and funding must precede it.
Finally, the association noted, "Voices from teacher and parent organizations are already coalescing against the funding reform," urging the government to maintain the current 20.79% tax revenue linkage rate, establish practical consultation procedures with local education offices regarding funding reforms, and prioritize the intrinsic values of education over financial efficiency in decision-making.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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