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By Lee Min-hyung
The Cabinet approved a plan to introduce English education after-school programs for first- and second-graders, Tuesday.
The prior act stipulated that English education at public schools should start from the third grade.
But there had been calls from parents to start public English education at an earlier age.
The plan will take effect on March 26 after it is published in an official gazette, according to the government. Students will be able to receive after-school public English education as early as this May.
The decision was made during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. President Moon Jae-in presided over the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae. Last week, the National Assembly passed the revision bill in a plenary session.
This will end the years-long controversy over public English education. In 2014, the Assembly passed the earlier bill, but it failed to go into effect immediately amid fierce opposition from parents and negative public opinion on the policy.
Last October, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hye said the earlier ban goes against the public's demand.
