[HS] Mayor Oh suggests TV debate on school meal

By Kwon Mee-yoo Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon suggested holding a television discussion on the free school meal program proposed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Oh said he thinks the people concerned should have a TV debate on free school lunches and education policy to put an end to the exhausting and unproductive discussions. The mayor has said he will cease administrative cooperation with the city council after the latter passed an ordinance to provide free lunches for all elementary and middle school students in Seoul from next year. “We have to listen to citizens’ opinion on the priority of educational policies after open discussion,” Oh said. He also said Kwak No-hyun, Seoul’s educational superintendent who backs the free meal program refused his offer to hold a television debate the day before. Oh reconfirmed his stance against the free meal program. “The council insists on reducing other budget sectors to finance free school lunches, but it is like using the budget of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs to fund school meals, which is impossible,” he said.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr