▲ Meeting of Superintendents-elect
Superintendents-elect from 16 cities and provinces across the country have issued a joint statement expressing their opposition to the reduction and restructuring of the Local Education Finance Grant.
They pointed out that "the damage from a unilateral restructuring of the grant system based on economic logic will ultimately fall on the students."
The superintendents-elect criticized the move, stating, "It is known that the government is considering changing the calculation method for the Local Education Finance Grant from the current system linked to internal tax revenue to one linked to the nominal growth rate." They added, "This goes beyond a simple adjustment of the financial formula; it is a dangerous attempt to unilaterally break a systemic promise that has sustained South Korea's public education for over half a century."
They continued, "Such a significant matter is being pushed forward without a single consultation with the municipal and provincial offices of education, which are responsible for the front lines of education," and argued that "the future of education should be decided based on sufficient consultation with education stakeholders, not by the calculations of fiscal authorities."
The superintendents-elect specifically refuted the logic that education funding should be reduced due to a decline in the number of students.
They emphasized, "The logic that education budgets must be cut as the number of students decreases ignores reality," adding that "a significant portion of education costs, such as staff salaries, school operating expenses, and facility safety and maintenance costs, are fixed costs incurred at the school and class level, not per individual student."
Accordingly, they demanded that the government immediately halt its push for a unilateral restructuring of the grant system and establish an official consultative body that includes municipal and provincial offices of education and education stakeholders.
(Photo: Provided by the National Council of Governors of Education, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.