Seoul Education Office Proposes $9.1 Billion Budget for School Improvements

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has proposed a supplementary budget of 11.71 trillion won (approximately $9.1 billion) to address long-standing issues such as the renovation of aging restrooms, a priority for students and parents. This budget aims to maximize student safety and enhance educational welfare under the vision of 'Basic Education for All.'
 
On August 10, the Seoul Education Office submitted the '2026 Second Supplementary Budget Proposal' to the Seoul City Council. The proposal is designed to immediately reflect the three core indicators of the recently announced Seoul Education Vision: 'Start with Precision,' 'Strengthen the Basics,' and 'Diverse Growth' in the upcoming school semester.
 
The largest allocation of the budget, totaling 6.254 trillion won, is dedicated to creating a 'Safe and Comfortable Learning Environment.' Of this amount, 2.142 trillion won will be specifically invested in renovating restrooms at 230 schools, which have been identified as areas students tend to avoid.
 
Additionally, 3.29 trillion won will be allocated for improving school environments, including heating and cooling systems and seismic reinforcements. Another 560 billion won will modernize aging cafeterias and cooking facilities, while 253 billion won will be used for minor safety facility repairs and the installation of intelligent CCTV systems. Furthermore, 9 billion won will be dedicated to protecting teachers' educational activities.
 
The 'Student Mental Health Recovery and Teacher Rights Protection Project' will actively utilize special grants from the Ministry of Education in the second half of this year, with plans to expand it in the 2027 budget.
 
In the area of 'Equal Starting Line and Inclusive Educational Welfare,' 191 billion won has been earmarked. In line with the government's phased implementation of free education, 111 billion won will be preemptively allocated to support free education for 35,000 three-year-olds attending public and private kindergartens and daycare centers.
 
Moreover, 17 billion won will improve working conditions for private kindergarten teachers, 38 billion won will support special education, 21 billion won will assist multicultural and alternative education, and 4 billion won will be allocated for student mental health recovery.
 
To promote 'Diverse Growth through Experience and Reading,' 336 billion won will be invested. This includes 173 billion won for providing digital electronic blackboards in sixth-grade elementary and third-year high school classrooms to establish an AI and digital-based future learning environment.
 
Support for autonomous reading education activities in schools will receive 137 billion won, while 22 billion won will be allocated for field trips that reduce teachers' administrative burdens and offer diverse activities for students.
 
Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik stated, "There are children who are reluctant to go to the restroom at school. This supplementary budget prioritizes resolving students' daily inconveniences while strengthening basic education and preparing for future AI education." He added, "Once the budget is approved, we will execute it swiftly so that students and staff can feel the impact immediately."