Message from Our Founder

Over the past decades, educational policies that aim to reduce social inequality have been implemented in nations as many policymakers believed education was a key solution to reducing social inequality.  Scholars have also studied the role of education in this social inequality, and some have even suggested that education is insufficient in decreasing social disparities.  However, although education alone plays a minimal role in reducing social inequality, as de Gregorio and Lee (2002) suggested, when "the price of skills" is premised, increasing the level and equality of education reduces income inequality.  We cannot ignore "the price of skills" in the labor market. Therefore, to reduce the income gap between the rich and the poor, it is necessary to analyze the labor market and education policies. 

 

Although it is essential to implement educational policies, such as increasing educational attainment, expanding education, and giving equal opportunities, I believe that it is also necessary to address "what is taught" to children from low-income families because skills obtained in schools will act as a guide to their future success in the labor market.  According to the B.L.S., the median annual salary in 2018 for people with STEM jobs was $84,880, while the median wage for non-STEM employment was $37,020.  Suppose we do not intervene and help children from low-income families acquire STEM skills. In that case, those children will remain in a circle of poverty in the era of nationally polarized income. 

 

As a researcher who has studied the role of education in social inequality, I firmly believe that to reduce social and income gaps, we must develop educational programs linked to the labor market. The most effective ways are to:

1. Analyze high-income jobs in the labor market.

2. Determine what to teach the children to raise the rate of higher income in the future.

3. Provide and help develop those labor market-demanded skills.

These are key aspects of our vision because all children have the potential to acquire high-tech knowledge and skills.  

 

Based on my belief, I established the "Courage. Hope. Care (C.H.C.) Institute", a non-profit organization that provides both educational and social service programs to children from low-income families. The C.H.C. Institute is not just about education; it's about giving hope and care to these children to improve their future income gaps by increasing their access to STEAM education. As for education, C.H.C. will focus on "STEAM in Equity," as for social services, C.H.C. will provide counseling, free meal services, and scholarships.