걷는 길 55%는 땡볕…서울시 ‘그늘보행권’ 도입한다

South Korea's government has decided to discontinue the linkage of the local education budget with individual income tax after 55 years. Starting next year, the education budget will be determined based on changes in the growth rate of the economy and the population eligible for education. This reform is aimed at improving the efficiency and fairness of the national resource allocation in a decreasing population scenario.

However, concerns over the stability of local education finance from the education sector are significant, and a thorough review will be necessary during the parliamentary review process to ensure the reform does not lead to a decrease in the quality of education. The Planning Budget Office announced the initial strategy for the reform on the 21st, and it will be submitted to the National Assembly on the 3rd of the following year.

The difference in the amount of education budget under the new system compared to the previous one will be deposited into a new account designated for education and human resources development. This account will be used for childcare education, higher education, and attracting talented individuals. The OECD average shows that South Korea is investing 166% of its GDP in primary and secondary education, and 69% in higher education, which is an imbalance that the new system aims to address.

Education agencies initially requested that the education and human resources development account be allowed to be used for primary and secondary education, but their request was not granted. The government assured that even with the new system, the total education budget and per capita education budget for students will continue to increase, and it will not lead to any situation where local education agencies cannot afford basic education costs.

However, the education sector expressed their dissatisfaction, stating that the decrease in education budget may not be sufficient to address future education needs, such as transitioning to AI education and upgrading facilities for the elderly. The government's decision to reform the linkage structure of education budget with individual income tax after 1972 without proper consultation with the Ministry of Education and education organizations has led to a backlash from the education sector.

The National Assembly should establish rational safety measures during the review process to address the concerns and reactions from the education sector, ensuring that the reforms are effective and well-integrated into the education scene.