Preschools' protest

Private preschools are being slammed for their decision to delay the start of the spring semester to protest government measures to improve the transparency of their financial operations.

The Korea Kindergarten Association (KKA) announced Sunday that 1,533 preschools would take part in the collective action, just a day ahead of the start of the new semester.

This has led to many working mothers to fret about what to do with their children while they are working. Because the delay was announced at such short notice, many working parents have been unable to find suitable care for their children. Many had hoped that the kindergartens would continue to run as usual despite the confrontation with the Ministry of Education.

The decision to delay the opening unilaterally shows a complete lack of consideration for parents and children. The KKA has even threatened to close the preschools if the government continues to push for reforms, such as introducing the Edufine accountiog system that the state manages.
 
Teh owners of preschools claim that such measures infringe on their private assets. Their position is somewhat understandable, but the government has the right to keep track of how state subsidies for preschools are being used. The whole situation would not have occurred if the preschools were using the subsidies properly in the first place. The government's reform measures were introduced after a public outcry about fraudulent preschools owners.

Preschools that take part in the protest against the much-needed reforms should be strongly punished and stripped of their state subsidies altogether.