Jeonbuk State held a communication meeting on childcare policy with executives and city/county branch heads of the Jeonbuk Daycare Center Association at the Provincial Office on the 11th. During the session, the province directly heard opinions from the childcare field and discussed directions for region-specific childcare support.

 

During this meeting, participants shared the challenges facing daycare center operations, including the decrease in the number of children due to the low birth rate and deteriorating financial conditions. They also discussed the necessity of creating a stable childcare environment to continue expanding free childcare, strengthen support for daycare centers in vulnerable areas, and improve teachers' working conditions.

 

Jeonbuk State plans to implement several measures starting next year with the intent of improving the quality of childcare services and reducing operational burdens. These include: ▲ gradually expanding the eligibility and amount for essential expense subsidies; ▲ increasing meal and snack costs for infants and toddlers; ▲ newly supporting childcare expenses for foreign children; and ▲ improving the teacher-to-child ratio for 0-year-old classes (from 1:3 to 1:2).

 

Jeonbuk State expects that support expansion will improve the development environment for infants and toddlers and stabilize the operation of daycare centers. The province, in cooperation with the Provincial Council, plans to continuously pursue the related budget and system to achieve this

 

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been leading childcare policy by realizing completely free childcare for the first time nationwide, including providing full support for necessary expenses and differential childcare fees starting in 2024