국공립어린이집 설치·운영 현황 분석 및 개선 방안 연구

Abstract

This study evaluates the overall public childcare installation and operation status, and seeks for areas of improvement in order to address regional imbalance, meet childcare demands, and enhance public welfare. First, publications on domestic and overseas childcare centers were reviewed to gather information on the regulations and statistics of local governments. Secondly, a survey of public officials, field experts, and parents using childcare facilities was conducted. Thirdly, an assessment of the plans to increase the number of facilities in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeong-gi province was administered. Lastly, in-depth group interviews were held with public officials, heads of childcare centers, and parents using or waiting to use childcare facilities, along with consultation meetings with public officials and experts to collect their opinions on the current policies on childcare. Results are as follows: During from 2010 to 2013, the average number of childcare facilities added to each city was less than one, which falls far shorter than the recommended 6.9 childcare centers. Main reasons for the shortage are budgetary deficit and difficulty in securing sites for construction. As for the commission types, individual commission took up the largest portion, followed by social welfare organizations and religious corporations. The commission period of three years was the largest, and three times of consecutive commission was average, making the total operation period eight years. New commissions were selected mainly through open competitions, but not in the case of an extension, which indicated the need for a change in the selection method. The admission rate for the socially vulnerable children was higher in public childcare centers than in private or corporate facilities. As for the period of waiting for admission to a childcare center, both the directors of the centers and parents saw that a system to extend the waiting period was necessary. However, they did not see eye to eye on the issue of priority in admission. Based on the results of this study, suggestions are recommended on the procedure and measures to expand public childcare centres and to improve the commission and operating systems.