영유아 교육·보육 재정 증가 추이와 효과: 2004-2014

Abstract

The present report reviews the policies and finance of the early childhood education and care sector during the past ten years since 2004. The review focuses on analyzing the effects and limitations of the budget expansion based on the results of three times(2004, 2009, 2012) National Survey on the Current Status of Childcare and two kinds of 2014 finance policy related opinion survey. In the past ten years, financial support for infants and young children has increased significantly. Free education(Nuri-curriculum) and care as well as childrearing subsidy have been provided to all 0-5 years old children from the low birthrate policy budget, using up to 70%. Consequently the rate of parental coverage decreased, which has allowed the rate of registered children at childcare centers and kindergartens to increase rapidly. However, there have been no difference in the satisfaction rate on these policies between the recipients and non-recipients of the allowances. Furthermore, the psychological effects of the financial support have been meager. In some cases receptors of the allowances were lesser satisfied. These financial support and high register rate at child care and education institutions had no relation with mother’s work, and weak relation with willingness to birth. This dissatisfaction come from the inconsideration of the parental needs. As the recipients of governmental subsidies expanded to the middle class, the childcare/education expense will have changed. Nevertheless, the government had not realized the more pressing demand for high-quality service. Even without cost parents expect no lesser quality care and education. The better the quality, the higher the demand becomes. Cost aids have increased the number of infants in childcare/education centers which is resulted in less room for infants of working mothers. The policy is said to have resulted in weakening parental responsibility. The budget for the early childcare and education sector exceeds 1% of the GDP, however, there are areas such as service quality, unit cost, teachers treatment, etc that need further financial support. Upcoming financial management must understand and correspond to the recipients in order to meet their needs.