In response to the government's announcement to abolish the local education financial grant formula linked to 20.79% of domestic tax revenue and to establish a new future response fund, education groups and superintendents across the country have called for a complete reversal of what they describe as a "devastating blow to the future of public education in South Korea." They are demanding an end to the unilateral reforms and the establishment of an official public consultation body involving educational stakeholders.
On August 21, the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA), the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), the Teachers' Union Federation, and over 360 educational and civic organizations formed the 'Emergency Action for Local Education Financial Grant Reform' to collectively criticize the government's proposal through statements and a press conference.
The KFTA stated, "The 54-year-old grant system, built on the blood and sweat of the education community, is being unilaterally altered without meaningful consultation with the directly affected local education superintendents and teachers, through backdoor negotiations by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Planning and Finance." They condemned the process as a "secret agreement, unilateral notification, and hasty enforcement."
The KTU also pointed out, "Even with a decrease in student numbers, schools and classes must be maintained, and costs for utilities and facility safety management do not decrease proportionally with student numbers." They highlighted that the local education fund has plummeted from 21.4 trillion won in 2022 to 3 trillion won in 2026, a staggering 85.9% drop, arguing that claims of surplus in education finances are a distortion of the truth.
The Emergency Action group, led by the Teachers' Union Federation, held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office, questioning, "Is this how a government that values the sovereignty of the people communicates, by announcing agreements between ministries only to inform later?" They criticized the government's proposed formula, which ties funding to economic growth rates influenced by semiconductor booms and exchange rates, as an unstable structure.
The Council of Education Superintendents of Korea, representing 16 regional superintendents, also issued a joint statement on the same day, opposing the government's reform plan.
The council criticized the lack of substantial participation and consultation from local education superintendents, who are responsible for managing local education finances and ensuring educational quality. They specifically refuted the government's claim of a "sustained increase in per-student funding," explaining that even if the total grant amount does not increase, a decrease in the school-age population would mathematically inflate the per-student figure. They argued that this misleading representation of increased educational investment is an attempt to deceive the public.
Furthermore, the council warned that the newly established future response fund should not be misused as a means to reduce local education finances. They urged the government to clearly define the future response fund's investment areas in early childhood, primary, and secondary education, ensuring its scale and purpose are legally guaranteed.
On August 21, the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations (KFTA), the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU), the Teachers' Union Federation, and over 360 educational and civic organizations formed the 'Emergency Action for Local Education Financial Grant Reform' to collectively criticize the government's proposal through statements and a press conference.
The KFTA stated, "The 54-year-old grant system, built on the blood and sweat of the education community, is being unilaterally altered without meaningful consultation with the directly affected local education superintendents and teachers, through backdoor negotiations by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Planning and Finance." They condemned the process as a "secret agreement, unilateral notification, and hasty enforcement."
The KTU also pointed out, "Even with a decrease in student numbers, schools and classes must be maintained, and costs for utilities and facility safety management do not decrease proportionally with student numbers." They highlighted that the local education fund has plummeted from 21.4 trillion won in 2022 to 3 trillion won in 2026, a staggering 85.9% drop, arguing that claims of surplus in education finances are a distortion of the truth.
The Emergency Action group, led by the Teachers' Union Federation, held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office, questioning, "Is this how a government that values the sovereignty of the people communicates, by announcing agreements between ministries only to inform later?" They criticized the government's proposed formula, which ties funding to economic growth rates influenced by semiconductor booms and exchange rates, as an unstable structure.
The Council of Education Superintendents of Korea, representing 16 regional superintendents, also issued a joint statement on the same day, opposing the government's reform plan.
The council criticized the lack of substantial participation and consultation from local education superintendents, who are responsible for managing local education finances and ensuring educational quality. They specifically refuted the government's claim of a "sustained increase in per-student funding," explaining that even if the total grant amount does not increase, a decrease in the school-age population would mathematically inflate the per-student figure. They argued that this misleading representation of increased educational investment is an attempt to deceive the public.
Furthermore, the council warned that the newly established future response fund should not be misused as a means to reduce local education finances. They urged the government to clearly define the future response fund's investment areas in early childhood, primary, and secondary education, ensuring its scale and purpose are legally guaranteed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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