"Even If Confirming School Opening Date Is Difficult, Student Conditions Will Be Checked Daily at School Starting from the 30th" (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Education Distributes Infectious Disease Guidance to All Schools
Schools Must Prepare Spaces for Suspected Cases

Prepare Cloth Masks and Distribute Medical Masks if Symptoms Appear
University Entrance Exam Schedule and School Opening Date Must Be Set Before Announcement

On the 20th, children are sanitizing their hands in a care classroom set up at an elementary school in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Ministry of Education stated that while it is difficult to give a definite answer regarding the scheduled school reopening on the 6th of next month, it plans to prepare for the reopening through social distancing measures inside and outside schools to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 24th, Deputy Minister of Education Baekbeom Park held a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong and distributed COVID-19 related guidelines for infection prevention to schools nationwide in preparation for reopening.

Although it is still too early to decide whether schools will reopen on April 6, starting from the 30th, a daily health check system will be activated to monitor students' health status one week before the reopening and report to schools. Deputy Minister Park said, "From next week, even during school closures, we have created and distributed a kind of health questionnaire so that children’s health status can be reported daily to their homeroom teachers," adding, "This will be communicated online and will continue after the reopening."

Regarding the specific reopening date, the Ministry of Education maintains that it is still difficult to make a premature judgment but views reopening on the 30th of this month as unlikely.

According to the guidelines announced that day, each school must designate a COVID-19 officer and establish an emergency contact system with public health centers and screening clinics. Additionally, schools must prepare a designated area for individuals showing suspected symptoms.

Cloth masks for students will be prepared by schools at a minimum of two per student, while the Ministry of Education plans to secure health masks (KF80) for up to two per student to be used in case of confirmed or suspected cases.

Even after reopening, families must check students’ health status before attending school, and if any suspicious symptoms are present, attendance should be suspended and the student should be observed at home for 3 to 4 days. If a confirmed case occurs, in consultation with health authorities, attendance suspension for the class, grade, or entire school for 14 days may be implemented.

Regarding the university entrance exam schedule, it is expected that it will be announced together once the reopening date is decided. Deputy Minister Park explained, "Once the reopening date is decided, we will announce the university entrance exam schedule simultaneously."

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