The pressure to have beautiful photos in Korean kindergartens.

Therefore, many teachers spend most of their time taking and editing photos, instead of taking care of the children.

In many kindergartens and daycare centers in South Korea, taking photos of students to send to parents has become a daily routine for teachers. What was once seen as a tool for connecting schools and families is now creating significant pressure, changing both classroom organization and educational priorities in the early childhood education environment.

During special events like field trips or celebrations, teachers may have to take hundreds of photos. It's not just about capturing moments; they also have to select the best ones to avoid parental complaints. For classes with young children who are constantly on the move, managing the class while ensuring "enough good photos" becomes a significant challenge.

Over the past decade, communication apps like Kids Note and Schoolbell-e have become widely used to update families on their children's photos and activities. Initially, this was seen as a solution to give parents more peace of mind when sending their children to school. However, according to many teachers, posting photos has now become almost a mandatory requirement, significantly increasing the administrative workload.

The pressure is compounded by the sharp decline in the number of children in South Korea. According to statistics, the number of children aged 3-5 eligible for kindergarten has decreased from 1.257 million in 2020 to 823,000 in 2025, a reduction of 34.5%. The intense competition for enrollment makes schools and daycare centers increasingly sensitive to parental feedback, with the frequency of photo updates considered a measure of a "good kindergarten."

The pursuit of visuals has also altered the way classroom activities are organized. Teachers argue that activities that create visual products, such as crafts, are often preferred because they are easier to photograph and impress parents. Meanwhile, quiet but highly educational lessons, such as reading or music lessons, are difficult to convey visually.

Some teachers admit they sometimes have to force children to participate in activities just to ensure everyone gets a photo to send home to their families. In some cases, children who don't like crafts are still asked to pose with other children's creations. According to the teachers, this reduces free play time and natural interaction.

Education experts argue that the problem lies in how society views preschools as service providers, where parents expect to receive "proof" that their children are being well cared for.

Kim Won-bae, Director of Policy Research at the Korean Federation of Teachers and Education Staff, argued that natural group photos are sufficient and teachers should not be forced to constantly take pictures.

Meanwhile, education expert Park Chang-hyun argues that taking photos has now become a form of administrative work to prove that educational activities have taken place.

“Parents, teachers, and schools need to discuss the issue of photography together to reduce this burden on both sides. Teachers need time to focus on what is most important: caring for and interacting directly with young children,” said Park Chang-hyun.

A kindergarten teacher living in North Chungcheong Province shared: “Behind those smiling photos is a tense classroom. We have to make sure every student looks cheerful in the pictures, even taking individual photos of each child. Everyone tries their best to take good photos so that parents won’t complain about ‘bad photos’.”

According to the Korea Times

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/ap-luc-anh-dep-o-mau-giao-han-quoc-post777782.html