A weekend and holiday childcare program launched this year by the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Office of Education is taking hold quickly, easing the burden on dual-income and single-parent households.
The hub childcare program, which the office runs to close gaps in care on weekends and public holidays, is a tailored service designed around the reality of families who must work on those days, the education office said on Oct. 19.
Introduced for the first time this year, the program currently operates at three designated hub centers: Saetbyeol Daycare Center and Haedami Daycare Center in Suncheon, and Samho Daycare Center in Yeongam. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.
Participation was initially modest because few families had used weekend care before. But the number of children attending has risen steadily as the office stepped up publicity, on-site monitoring and customized consulting.
The hub classrooms offer play-based programs built around children's interests, along with ample rest time. Meals and snacks designed for nutritional balance are also provided. Safety management has been reinforced, with dedicated teachers and volunteers assigned so that children can stay comfortably even in unfamiliar surroundings.
One notable feature is the low barrier to entry. Any child aged 3 to 5 who needs weekend care can use the service regardless of which kindergarten or daycare center they attend, with parents applying directly to the hub center.
The education office views the program as a model of community-based cooperation in raising children.
"The weekend hub childcare program is an exemplary case of breaking down barriers between institutions and building a tightly knit care network," said Kim Bo-kyung, director of the early childhood and elementary education division at the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City Office of Education. "Based on the stable results we are seeing now and parents' satisfaction, we will expand the number of hub centers further next year."