Gyeonggi Province to Expand Public-Type Daycare Centers to 650 Total
[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Park No-hoon] Gyeonggi Province will designate over 54 additional public-type daycare centers this year, expanding the total to 650.
Public-type daycare centers are selected from outstanding private and home daycare centers, which receive operating support and provide quality childcare services to infants and young children under strengthened operating standards.
According to the province on the 26th, public-type daycare centers are selected each year through evaluations of operational stability, the professionalism of childcare staff, and other criteria, targeting daycare centers that meet the basic requirements of participating in nine categories with the highest grade or score within the validity period of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's evaluation and accreditation.
Based on the number of teachers, classes, and current enrollment, public-type daycare centers receive support including ▲400,000 won per month per basic education class ▲600,000 won in operating costs per infant class ▲15,000 won per child in education and environment costs and 30,000 won in operating activation costs ▲cook labor costs according to the number of children.
They are re-designated every three years, and must maintain the highest grade in daycare evaluations and comply with strict evaluation standards, such as active participation in quality management projects.
Of the 33 centers subject to re-designation in the first half of this year (with designation expiring on July 31), the province re-designated 29, excluding those closed temporarily, permanently closed, or that abandoned operations.
Gyeonggi Province currently has 596 public-type daycare centers, and plans to designate 54 additional public-type daycare centers through a designation recruitment process this coming July, expanding operations to a total of 650.
Yoon Young-mi, head of Gyeonggi Province's Childcare Policy Division, said, "To provide high-quality childcare services that parents can trust, we will continue to expand public-type daycare centers and public daycare centers."