Education chiefs of 14 cities and provinces have urged President Park Geun-hye to personally deal with the budget controversy over a free child-care program.
 
Superintendents of 14 regional education offices made the plea on Wednesday in a statement, saying that emergency financial support from state coffers is needed to cover expenses for the preschool program.
 
The education chiefs also called on the government to set up a general consultative body to find a fundamental solution to the issue.
 
The superintendents have also decided to hold protests regarding the issue in front of the presidential office in Seoul.
 
Superintendent of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, Lee Jae-joung will protest first on Thursday followed by Superintendent of the Gangwon Provincial Office of Education Min Byeong-hee on Friday.
 
The central government and the education offices are at odds over whether local governments should fund the child-care program using education grants from the central government.