Two Days Before the First Ever Online School Opening, 'Parent Help' Allowed Assignments Not Accepted (Comprehensive)

Ministry of Education Announces Remote Class Guidelines
Written Exams Scheduled for Late May
Arts and Physical Education Subjects Allow Video Submission for Student Records

Adjusted Performance Assessment Ratios to Ease Student Burden
Attendance Proof Required Within 7 Days

Additional Measures Needed if COVID-19 Crisis Prolongs

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Ahead of the first-ever implementation of 'online school opening' starting from the 9th, the Ministry of Education has issued detailed guidelines related to remote classes. These include how attendance and absences will be handled and the methods of student evaluation. Since this is a first-time experience for education authorities, schools, parents, and students alike, various trial-and-error situations are expected. In particular, there are calls to quickly prepare additional guidelines in case the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs.

◆'Parental help beyond the monitor' cannot be reflected in evaluations= According to the Ministry of Education's 'Guidelines on Attendance, Evaluation, and Record-Keeping for Remote Classes' released on the 7th, student evaluations and school life records are, in principle, to be conducted through 'written exams' after returning to school. Midterm exams are expected to be held as early as the end of May.

However, if teachers directly observe and confirm students' learning processes and outcomes during remote classes, evaluation and recording in the student record are possible. This includes participation in discussions or debates on real-time platforms or performing presentations via video calls. Additionally, for arts and physical education remote classes, if teachers directly verify assignments submitted by students, these can be recorded in the student record. For example, if a student submits a video of daily exercise or a recorder performance, it can be recorded in the student record.

However, assignments that are difficult for teachers to directly observe and verify cannot be evaluated or recorded. This applies to cases where it is unclear who actually completed tasks such as essays, book reports, or PPT presentations. Text messages or comments written in real-time during remote classes are also not recorded in the student record.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has allowed for adjustment of the proportion of performance assessment scores, considering that students' burden may increase if performance assessments are concentrated after returning to school. Learning losses caused by reduced class days will be minimized by reorganizing the curriculum and operating supplementary learning linked with remote learning after returning to school.

◆Attendance recognized if verified within 7 days= Attendance for remote classes will be recognized if attendance is confirmed within 7 days from the class date. Attendance management methods vary slightly depending on the type of remote class. For interactive classes, teachers can confirm attendance in real-time through comments in online classrooms or platforms. For content utilization or assignment completion, attendance can be confirmed through Learning Management System (LMS) access logs, text messages, or social network services (SNS). Even in interactive classes, if real-time confirmation is impossible due to connection issues, attendance can be recognized via phone calls or text messages.

The government is demonstrating remote classes at Yeongpung Elementary School in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 30th of last month, ahead of the announcement regarding the opening of elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

If a student is unable to participate in class due to unavoidable reasons, attendance can also be recognized by participating in alternative learning programs provided by the teacher. If a student cannot participate in remote classes due to health reasons, attendance will be recognized upon submission of supporting documents such as hospitalization or quarantine notices after returning to school.

In the case of special schools, one-on-one home visits minimizing contact will be conducted considering the type and degree of disability. For visually impaired students, lecture materials will be provided as braille files, and subtitles and sign language support will be provided for hearing-impaired students. To prevent multicultural students from being excluded from classes, Korean online education content will be introduced, and Korean language learning for multicultural students will be managed through Korean language class teachers.

◆What if COVID-19 prolongs?= The biggest problem with the prolongation of COVID-19 is that the 'written exams,' which are the basis of evaluation, may become impossible. This is due to the possibility of conducting the entire semester through remote classes. In such cases, the Ministry of Education plans to consult with metropolitan and provincial education offices to prepare and announce additional measures. If academic achievement significantly drops after midterms for students who only attended remote classes, dissatisfaction and confusion among parents are also anticipated.

An education official said, "Parents ultimately perceive academic achievement after written exams," and added, "The Ministry of Education should keep parents' anxieties in mind and prepare alternatives in case the situation prolongs." Meanwhile, for students requiring parental help such as first and second graders in elementary school, the Ministry of Education explained that "attendance for remote classes will be managed through emergency care."

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