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Committee wants to lower entrance age for schooling, reduce abortions
November 26, 2009
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| To fight the country’s notoriously low fertility rate, the government announced new measures yesterday, including a plan to lower the school entrance age from 6 to 5 to allow double-income couples to rely on the public education system for child rearing. At a meeting hosted by President Lee Myung-bak, the Presidential Council for Future and Vision presented ways to encourage Koreans to have more children. Plans also include encouraging fathers to take child care leave, campaigning against abortion and providing incentives to families with three or more children. The council said the country’s fertility rate could be worsened by aftershocks of the economic crisis. The council is focusing on reducing child-rearing expenses, broadening society’s acceptance of working and single mothers and increasing the number of people who can become Korean citizens. Korea posted the second-lowest fertility rate in the world, according to the 2009 report by the United Nations Population Fund. The rate was 1.22, just behind Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 1.21. Total fertility rate is the average number of children born to a woman during her child-bearing years. Ideas presented during yesterday’s meeting will be discussed by relevant ministries and shaped into official policies, said Blue House spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye. “The Lee administration’s strategy is focused on shifting traditional ways of thinking,” said Kwak Seung-jun, head of the presidential council. “Without a change, the low fertility rate cannot be solved. It’s a matter hard to correct unless we change the current structure that the burden of child-rearing expenses is heavier than the joy of having a child.” According to Kwak, measures to lower those expenses were a focus of the meeting. Lowering the school entrance age by one year will allow children to finish school and enter society earlier to begin economic activities, he said, adding that the government’s goal is to implement the change during Lee’s term. “Taking into account the improved physical and mental abilities of children, it is actually desirable for them to begin school earlier. The 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds of today are smart enough to show interest in electronic gadgets and computers,” Kwak said. “By [lowering the age for schooling], the government will also be able to save the cost of rearing toddlers, and that money can be spent to further improve programs for infants and younger children.” This year alone, the central government spent 135.6 billion won ($118 million) on child-rearing subsidies for 5-year-olds around the nation. An additional 272 billion won was spent to support kindergartens. The money earmarked for 5-year-olds can be used for programs for younger children after the 5-year-olds enroll in school. “The lowering of the school entrance age is the beginning of a discussion to include preschool programs in the public education system like some OECD countries,” said Kang Min-gyu, an official in charge of aging society policy at the Health and Welfare Ministry. Plans to provide incentives to families with three or more children are also being scrutinized. Children with more than two elder siblings could be given benefits to attend college, including tuition subsidies. The possibility of extending the retirement age of parents with more than three children was also discussed. “That could be first adopted by state-run companies and government offices, and can be expanded to the private sector,” Kwak said. “It’s like a change of view. We give benefits to patriots, and let’s think of childbirth as a contribution to the country.” Campaigns against abortion were also discussed. “As a minister in charge of the matter, we will sternly crack down on illegal abortions after a grace period,” Health Minister Jeon Jae-hee was quoted as saying. An “Increase Koreans” project was also proposed by the council. Allowing dual citizenship and supporting interracial families were recommended as well as a plan to encourage immigration to Korea to beef up foreign manpower. Critics were skeptical of the effectiveness of some of the ideas. While the lowering of school enrollment age is a key part of the strategy, the Education Ministry was informed of the idea only a day before the announcement yesterday, critics pointed out. The ministry established a low fertility task force only yesterday to keep up with government efforts. Some worried that the plan will backfire. “In Europe, some reports showed that it is actually more academically productive for older children to begin school,” said Shin Eun-soo, professor of child education at Duksung Women’s University. “The plan is going against the new findings,” Shin added. By Ser Myo-ja, Ahn Hye-ri [myoja@joongang.co.kr] JoongAng daily Hot issue
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