The purpose of this study is to analyze the financial independence of private high schools in Seoul and to elucidate the problems faced by them and suggest an effective problem solving point. It also aims to raise the financial independence of private...
The purpose of this study is to analyze the financial independence of private high schools in Seoul and to elucidate the problems faced by them and suggest an effective problem solving point. It also aims to raise the financial independence of private schools and to suggest ways for private schools to operate their schools with a long-term plan in the future based on their financial stability.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Korean private schools have led the development of education in Korea beyond the traditional support of domestic education (Shin Hyun-seok, 1997). In Korea, the baby boom generation born between 1955 and 1963 after the end of the Korean War led to an exponential increase in demand for education. At that time, there was no financial means for the government to cover the explosive demand for education. As the founders of private schools, who are aware of the importance of education, set up schools by appearing their personal property, the supply of education has become able to cope with demand. Since then, private schools have continued to invest in improving the educational environment until the national economy has stabilized and conditions for investing in education have become available. Due to the investment in education of these private schools in Korea, it has produced a lot of talents in secondary education and contributed greatly to the development of Korea in various aspects of economy and society.
In spite of the importance and contribution of private schools in the education of our country, most private schools today have many difficulties in operating schools in a poor educational environment and circumstances.
First, private schools do not operate any other businesses for commercial purpose. Therefore, there is no income other than the income generated from the assets secured at the time of the establishment of the private school. In addition, since the government and local governments do not provide adequate financial support in a timely manner, private schools are obliged to cover the expenses required to run the school from the tuition fees. However, even the tuition fees are set at the same level as the public schools by the high school leveling policy implemented in 1974, and the poverty of private school financing is increasing year after year due to the suppression of the increase by the government's price control policy (Shin, 1997). In addition, most private schools have a lot of difficulties in nurturing talent and devloping leaders for the 4th Industrial Revolution era because the educational environment is poor due to the aged education facilities compared with those of public schools.
The starting point of the financial difficulties of history is, above all, in the high school equalization system that started in 1974. In the past, private schools were able to measure education costs and measure the payment of students' fees so that they did not have difficulty in operating the school, so that stable educational resources could be secured. This environment allowed private schools to operate a school with a long-term financial plan. However, due to the high school equalization system, private schools have received subsidies from the government as much as the resources they lack to operate the school.
Unlike the past, the number of students and classes has been decreasing each year due to a steep decline in the fertility rate, and the number of schools has remained almost unchanged. In other words, the supply of education has exceeded the demand of education currently. This social change has brought another financial difficulty in operating private schools.
As the number of students is decreased, the income from the tuition payment is decreased. As a result, the amount of subsidy to be supported by the government supporting private schools will increase gradually.
Therefore, the private school which has been leading the charge of educational development in Korea has fallen into a complex that is operated by taxes at any moment.
The private schools have been criticized by the public in respect of the goverment subsidies. In order to win back the public trust and respect, the private schools need to focus on enhancing their financail self-reliance above all.