5-Week Educational Gap 'Learning Polarization'

Extended Academy Closures Due to School Opening Delays
Some Students Take Private Tutoring and Small Group Classes
Advance and In-Depth Learning for Preparation

Libraries and Reading Rooms Closed, Leading to Staying at Home
Exposure to Infection Risks at PC Rooms and Coin Karaoke

Vulnerable Groups Lack Smart Devices
Online Remote Classes Also Difficult

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Student A, who graduated from a private elementary school in Seoul and is about to enter middle school, is currently receiving intensive private tutoring. The subjects are English, Chinese, and Mathematics. With the school opening delayed, the opportunity to study areas that were somewhat lacking has increased, so the student does not feel bad about it. Since the teacher comes to the house, there is no concern about the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

As the school opening delay prolongs, there are concerns about the polarization of learning among students. Since the total closure period amounts to 5 weeks from the start of the new semester this year, there is a high possibility of significant differences in academic achievement depending on the students' circumstances. Some students attend classes at private tutoring centers operated in small groups, including individual tutoring, while others stay at home all day because libraries and reading rooms are closed, or they wander around PC rooms and coin karaoke rooms.

Student B, who is in the second year of high school, has seen a significant reduction in study volume due to the school opening delay decision. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, B has stopped attending large academies among the three originally attended. This is due to family concerns and the academies themselves being closed. Currently, B attends only one small-scale academy, but even that has reduced class hours compared to before. Since reading rooms cannot be visited during the morning hours when school should be attended, most of the time is spent at home, and in the afternoon, B contacts friends to get some fresh air briefly. B's parents are worried about the reduced study time, but more than anything, they are concerned about exposure to group infections from gathering with friends. However, they are also troubled because they cannot just keep a growing child confined at home.

Goo Bonchang, Director of Policy Alternatives Research at the Society Without Private Education Worries, said, "There is anxiety that learning levels through study and academies can vary greatly, which is also confirmed through actual academy marketing," adding, "More parents are prioritizing their children's academic achievement after school opening over safety."

In fact, academies with fewer students are continuing classes with both instructors and students wearing masks and sitting spaced apart. An education official said, "We tried to conduct classes online, but there were issues with students' concentration and instructors also said there were limits," adding, "It is a last resort, but eventually academies will open." Most large cram schools reopened on the 16th, and Daesung Academy plans to resume classes on the 23rd. As of the 17th, the closure rate of academies in Seoul is 25%, significantly down from 37% a week earlier. About 4,000 academies and tutoring centers in the representative academy districts of Gangnam and Seocho-gu have opened. Among 5,269 academies and tutoring centers under the Gangnam Seocho Office of Education, only 1,158 (21.98%) remain closed.

The Ministry of Education announced that as the learning gap lengthens, from the fourth week of March onward, it will provide various online learning programs equivalent to regular classes to support systematic learning. First, it ordered each city and provincial office of education to prepare accordingly. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to form an online classroom promotion team to create educational content that allows not only autonomous learning at home but also recognition of completion of the regular curriculum. However, this is only at the basic planning stage, and it is uncertain whether students can study with concentration comparable to regular classes or how effective the academic achievement will be. The related budget is only the usual 'Student Education Informatization Support Project.' A Ministry of Education official said, "We plan to deliver to each city and provincial office of education so that teachers can autonomously design classes including learning guidance," adding, "We are encouraging schools to lend smart devices they possess to prepare for any possible blind spots."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.