High Complaints About University Remote Classes... Recognized as Regular Classes for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Education's 'Remote Class Operation Guidelines'
School Opening on April 6, Preparing for Worst-Case Scenario
Guides Distributed to Each City and Provincial Office of Education

Various Methods Including Interactive and Assignment-Based Classes
First Recognition of Class Days and Hours
Flexible Attendance Management According to School Conditions

Universities Face Two Weeks of Online Lecture Chaos
Students Complain of "Decline in Class Quality"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee, Byungdon Yoo] Amid uncertainty over the possibility of reopening elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide on April 6, the Ministry of Education is preparing for the worst-case scenario by issuing guidelines for remote classes (online lectures). The plan is to proceed with the scheduled reopening but conduct classes online (remote classes) and recognize them as regular classes. The remaining challenge is how to address the varying acceptance of remote classes by schools and students and other conditions. Confusion continues in universities already conducting remote lectures, with demands for tuition refunds due to issues such as class quality and infrastructure.

On the 27th, the Ministry of Education announced that it had prepared and distributed the 'Remote Class Operation Guidelines' to each metropolitan and provincial office of education in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The guidelines establish the basic principles regarding the concept of remote classes, class operation principles, school planning, and management.

First, the Ministry decided to recognize remote classes as equivalent to regular classes in terms of the number of school days and hours. This is the first time such a case has occurred. The method of remote classes may vary depending on the conditions of schools and students. In addition to real-time interactive classes, content-based classes, and assignment-based classes, various classes recognized by the superintendent of education or the school principal can be operated. At this time, schools must secure an appropriate amount of learning equivalent to the 'unit class time (40, 45, and 50 minutes for elementary, middle, and high school, respectively)' and ensure that no learning loss occurs.

Attendance can be recorded in real-time or after the class, depending on the school's circumstances. Learning management systems, text messages, and phone calls can also be used, and if confirmed afterward, learning result reports or parental confirmation forms can be submitted remotely. For students who have difficulty participating in remote classes, such as students with disabilities and first and second graders in elementary school, tailored support should be provided for individual learning, and measures to improve classes through parental consultations should be prepared.

The Ministry of Education and metropolitan and provincial offices of education will provide guidelines and manuals for operating remote classes and assist participation through the one-on-one remote support service 'GyosaOn (溫).' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "We will use this remote class opportunity to cultivate students' self-directed learning abilities and support our education to take a step forward into future education by expanding blended learning that combines online and offline classes."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆Second Week of Online Lectures... Universities Still in Confusion = Universities, which started their academic schedules with online lectures ahead of elementary, middle, and high schools, continue to face complaints about the decline in class quality. Universities nationwide postponed the start of the semester once in early March and began the semester with online lectures from the 16th. However, as the COVID-19 spread shows no signs of slowing, many universities are extending the online lecture period.

First, major universities in the metropolitan area, including Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Sogang University, Ewha Womans University, Chung-Ang University, Sookmyung Women's University, and Kwangwoon University, decided to extend the online lecture schedule, originally planned until the end of this month, by two more weeks. Korea University and Dongguk University extended it by one week. Sungkyunkwan University decided to replace all first-semester classes with online lectures.

University students are voicing dissatisfaction. The level of preparation for online lectures varies by university, and some universities are not conducting proper classes. There are also demands for refunds of library and other facility maintenance fees and laboratory practice fees. According to a survey conducted by the National University Student Council Network (Jeondaenet), composed of student councils from 27 universities nationwide, targeting about 14,785 students from the 27th of last month to the 6th of this month, 85.2% of respondents (62.7% strongly agree, 22.5% agree) answered that tuition refunds are necessary during the process of postponing the semester start and substituting with online classes.

However, most universities maintain the position that since classes have not been canceled, they do not consider tuition reductions or refunds. Legally, there is little basis to demand tuition refunds from universities. The regulations on university tuition state that tuition for the semester or month is waived if the university is closed for the entire semester or month. The Ministry of Education's response has also been lukewarm, citing that tuition setting and changes are decisions made by university presidents. A Ministry of Education official explained, "University presidents can decide on tuition, but it is difficult for the government to recommend uniformly."

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