Early Childhood Care and Education in an Aging Korea

Abstract

Faced with the problem of low fertility and aging society this study examines role of government, family and society for the child care and pre-school education, and suggests policy directions. For the OECD countries it reviews role of nations and the characteristics of policies on childcare and pre-school education. Especially this study reviews best practice of France because it has reasonable rate of fertility and high level of employment rate for women due to well designed childcare and pre-school education. Most OECD countries support universal pre-school education or childcare services for 3~5 years old children. For 0~2 years old children the countries mainly support for the dual working parents and single parents. The OECD countries provide free pre-school education for 3~5 years olds children. However, for 0~2 years old children the countries impose part of the childcare cost for the parents who use childcare services. Usually public childcare centers provide services. Private childcare centers should meet the quality standards in order to provide service and to receive financial support from government. This study provides policy recommendations as followings. First, government needs to distinguish support for "child rearing" and "childcare." The childcare support for 0~2 years old should be provided for the children who have special need for childcare. The childcare and pre-school education service should be provided for 3~5 years old for the better development and socialization for the children. Second, support for childcare should contribute for vertical and horizontal equity for entire society. Third, childcare policy should enhance work and life balance. Fourth, policies on childcare and pre-school education should be regarded as social investment for generating high quality human capital and labor force in the future. For specific policy guidelines this study suggests the followings. Support for the childcare service should be provided according to the level of income and number of children of the household. The quality of private childcare service need to be guaranteed by supervision of the facilities. Government needs to provide financial support for the private childcare facilities based on the results from the supervision. Diverse childcare services should be provided in order to support parental rearing of children. For the stable financial support for childcare it is useful to raise "Family Fund" For the mobilization of the fund, government, industry, and family should share their contribution together.