Only 10,000 people waiting for care classes ↑… "Completely resolved after 2 years"

<Anchor>

There are more than 10,000 people nationwide waiting for childcare classes that take care of elementary school students who have finished their classes until late at school.

In line with the increased demand for care, the government has come up with measures to make it available to all families who want it two years later and to provide future education rather than simple care. 

Let's look at reporter Lim Tae-woo's report and talk.

<Reporter>

An elementary school in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do.

There are more than 300 students going up to the 2nd grade this year, but only 12 people are recruited for the care class.

In a two-income couple who fell out of a close 4-to-1 competition, her wife decided to quit her job.

[Mr. Aunt/'Double-income couple who dropped out of care': The child is still too young to go back and forth (academy) alone, and living expenses are increasing, but one has to quit, so it's very difficult economically...

.]

Care classes are in critical short supply across the country.

The number of people on the waiting list has increased by more than 5,000 in the last two years, and as many as 40% of parents in grades 3, 4, and 5 of elementary school hope to use it, but the actual rate of use is only in the single digits.

[Elementary school parents: I think I have no choice but to turn (academy).

Usually, from 2 to 3 o'clock, I went to the academy.]

Then, the Ministry of Education came up with measures to strengthen childcare under the name of 'Neulbom School'.

The school care hours, which were previously provided from after school to 5 p.m., will be increased from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Intermittent care after school or temporary care requested in case of emergency will also be available.

The authorities emphasized that they will not stop at simple care by providing high-quality education such as coding and artificial intelligence to care students.

[Lee Joo-ho/Deputy Prime Minister and Minister

of Education: High-quality education and care must be provided together to develop the strength to live in the future society.]

It is our policy to settle in the school.

(Video coverage: Yoo Dong-hyeok, Kim Se-kyung, Kim Min-cheol, video editing: Yoon Tae-ho)

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<Anchor>

Reporter Lim Tae-woo covering the education field is with me. 

[Reporter Lim Tae-woo: Yes.

First of all, this is the best news for working couples who are worried about whether it is a child or a job.

According to a recent survey by the National Statistical Office, the biggest reason married women lose their careers is because of childcare, and 1 out of 5 elementary school mothers fall under this category.

If school childcare is expanded, it is expected that the cost of sending the child to private academies will be greatly reduced, as well as the worry of losing careers.]

[Reporter Lim Tae-woo: The teachers' organizations are in the position that teachers are busy preparing for classes, but taking care of care work is a burden.

So, we are discussing from various angles, from local governments or education support offices to take care of care work, or to deploying dedicated administrative agents.

Finding an entity to manage this care class with professionalism and responsibility is the task to be solved during the pilot operation period.]

[Reporter Lim Tae-woo: What parents and children need most is a life in which mother, father, and child spend the evening together after leaving work earlier than school to take care of them until 8 p.m.

In order to do that, the authorities should strive to improve work and family balance by improving long working hours.]