Click here for the full English version of the Research in Brief, No. 2024-01, Vol. 117, "Education Welfare Projects in Korea."

Learning gap among children has widened following the Covid-19 pandemic, but the concept of education welfare is still vague

• ■The learning gap has widened as a result of the educational environment and socioeconomic inequalities deteriorating following the Covid-19 pandemic.

• ■Education authorities have been at work to enhance education support, both universal and targeted, but the lack of a clear definition for education welfare poses challenges in precisely taking stock of current education welfare projects.

• ■As the discrepancy in the classification of education project target groups between the central government and local education authorities can cause overlaps and gaps in support, changes and amendments should be promptly made to the classification methods.

KIHASA has released the Health and Welfare Issue and Focus, No. 443, "Education Welfare Projects in Korea." The lead researcher of this study is Na Won Hee, Associate Research Fellow, Department of Social Security Finance and Data Research, KIHASA.

"The learning gap among schoolchildren has emerged as a significant social concern in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic," said Dr. Na. "Education gaps have widened, likely as a result of existing disparities in living conditions and available resources in a disaster situation translating into a greater impact on everyday life for some social segments, adding to the existing disadvantage in learning, especially for children of socioeconomically underprivileged backgrounds."

She said, "The need is acute now for education welfare to play a bigger role in mending education disparities. In recognition of the need for education welfare for vulnerable groups, the education authorities concerned have been at work to enhance education support, both universal and targeted, including subsidized education programs, tailored education assistance for children from low-income families, and daycare and after-school programs. However, the lack of a clear definition for education welfare poses challenges in precisely taking stock of current education welfare projects."

She said, "In this study, I attempted to pin down the concept of education welfare, which has been defined varyingly across time by different researchers, and then analyze in a comprehensive way education welfare projects run separately by the central and local governments."

SUMMARY

• ●The importance of education welfare is growing as a means of preventing education gap from widening as a result of the educational environment and socioeconomic inequalities deteriorating following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

• ●It is crucial that no one, in a time of crisis or otherwise, be put in a disadvantageous position in education because of their socioeconomic disadvantage or lack of access to resources. In this regard, it is essential that education welfare projects are designed and delivered so as to provide equal opportunities for education to students and outside-of-school adolescents alike.

• ●This study examines the concept of education welfare as presented in relevant legal frameworks and municipal ordinances, analyzes the education welfare projects implemented by the central and municipal governments and local offices of education, and presents improvement options.