South Korea has announced a plan to extend the hours of extracurricular classes for primary schools, making them available at all schools to better accommodate the schedules of commuting parents. The government has committed a budget of 1.17 trillion won ($879 million) for the current year, more than double the previous year's allocation. The initiative, named Neulbom School, will allow any first grader to enroll in the extracurricular program later this year. First graders will receive up to two hours of free classes every day, with the option for parents to enroll their children in extended classes until 8 p.m. for a fee.
By the end of the year, approximately 8,500 staff members will be assigned to manage the extended classes. In a public discussion, President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized the crucial role of primary schools in offering childcare services beyond the mandatory teaching hours outlined in the national curriculum. This discussion coincided with a New Year's policy briefing from the Education Ministry. President Yoon expressed the need for schools to have greater roles and responsibilities to establish the concept of 'public care,' highlighting the common challenge parents face in aligning their work hours with their children's school schedules, often leading to career interruptions or abandonment.
Parents who remain employed often find themselves enrolling their children in private classes after regular school hours. In 2022, South Korean parents collectively spent 11.9 trillion won on private-sector education for their children. Given this context, South Korea accelerated its initiative to introduce Neulbom School, a government-backed before and after school program, in over 6,000 primary schools nationwide. The program will be available to first graders starting from the fall semester, with plans to extend accessibility to students in all elementary school years by 2026.
