2018-2022 보육 중장기 발전방안 연구

Abstract

Childcare law specifies to establish childcare plans of national level every five years. As the 「Second Mid-and Long-term childcare master plan (2013-2017)」is headed to the end, it is time for us to establish new childcare plans for the next fiver years(2018-2022).

Purpose of this study is to gather the data and suggest policy to support the establishment of ‘Third Mid-and Long-term childcare master plan(2018-2022).

This study evaluated the performance of past childcare policies and gathered the opinions of the Moon government’s childcare projects. Also review of child care related statistics, literature review, investigation of related academic and experts in childcare field(45 cases), public survey was done by 3000 men and women over 20s.

First, through the experts’ investigation, ‘continuation of low birthrate and aging’, ‘increase of social needs about the improvement of childcare quality’, 'increase of needs about the improvement of happiness level of child’, ‘diversification of family structure’, ‘unification of child care and education’, ‘creating environment for the gender equality’ were the most agreed issues to be considered for the Third Mid-and Long-term childcare master plan.

Second, among the 6 projects, achievement of ‘lightening the parents' burden with childcare and child rearing', 'support of customized childcare and child rearing' were rated high, however other 4 projects' achievements were rated low. Among the projects that were rated as high achievements, Experts and parents' evaluation was low compared to the government's evaluation.

Third, the achievement of ‘lightening the parents' burden with childcare and child rearing' was rated the highest however, the experts evaluated that the importance is currently low. 'Publicness of childcare and reinforcement of quality assurance', 'providing reliable childcare of fine quality', and 'improvement in financial affairs and delivery system of childcare service' were evaluated as important projects.

Fourth, when parents with infant and toddler were asked about how they feel about the childcare policies, they felt positive about the reduction of child rearing expenses. However, facility and accessibility of daycare, safety of meal service and the most of the childcare reality were rated below average. Therefore the achievement of childcare plans for the past 5 years considered low.

Fifth, the experts agreed on 'support of child's healthy growth and development', 'fulfillment of nation's duty of childcare', 'improvement of fairness in child's earl-life', 'support of parent's work-family balance', 'reinforcement of parent's capability and responsibility', 'support of age appropriate nurture', 'creation of system for childcare teachers' happiness' are the direction that our nation's childcare policy should face. Among these, 'support of child's healthy development' was considered as the most important part in the childcare policy.

Sixth, parents with infants and toddlers saw that ‘nation's responsibility of childcare' is most desirable project however, saw 'free childcare regardless of family income' less desirable. Also, they saw the most important purpose of childcare policy is 'creating the environment that child could develop healthy'

Seventh, parents answered the support of 'childcare fee, home care allowance' is most helpful government support, next comes with providing various childcare institutions or services, expansion of community's support of childcare infrastructure, expansion of number of preschools. Supporting the expense is the most helpful support but improvement is necessary at the same time.

Eighth, parents use childcare service for their employment, needs for surrogate rearing and to promote child's development. 'Geographical accessibility' is the key factor for choosing childcare. Even though the childcare is free of charge, parents are demanding to ease the burden of extra fee and to improve the facility and operation hours.

Based on these main results, this study suggested direction for Korea's childcare policies for year 2018-2022 as 'vision', four 'strategies', and eight 'promoting projects' and detail projects within each promoting projects.

Childcare policy's vision contains government's philosophy expert and parents needs so that balance among child rearing and childcare could happen.

Strategy maintained with the nation's responsibility for child care, which was emphasized in Second Mid-and Long-term childcare master plan, but newly suggested to emphasize the parent's role and support parents. Improvement of teacher's self-esteem, support of child's healthy growth and development were suggested.