Today Marks 4th School Return... Parents Frustrated, "Only Nominal Attendance, What’s the Point?"

4th Phase of School Reopening Starts on the 8th... Nationwide Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High School Students Return After 99 Days
Parents Express Anxiety... Criticism of "Nominal Reopening"
Experts Call for Transition to Social Distancing
Ministry of Education: "Will Respond Swiftly if Student Safety is Threatened"

On the morning of the 8th, when approximately 1.35 million 5th to 6th grade elementary and 1st grade middle school students nationwide resumed the fourth phase of school attendance, students were arriving at Chuncheon Middle School in Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Gayeon] Today (the 8th), as about 1.35 million 5th-6th grade elementary school students and 1st grade middle school students nationwide resumed the 4th phase of in-person classes, some parents are still expressing anxiety about the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is because the daily new confirmed cases have been exceeding 30 continuously, and sporadic infections are continuing mainly in the metropolitan area, raising concerns about cluster infections within schools.

Experts suggested that in order to suppress the outbreak situation originating from the metropolitan area, health authorities should consider implementing high-intensity social distancing measures.

Following the return to school of 3rd-year high school students on the 20th of last month, 2nd-year high school, 3rd-year middle school, 1st-2nd grade elementary, and kindergarten students on the 27th, and 1st-year high school, 2nd-year middle school, and 3rd-4th grade elementary students on the 3rd of this month, today marks the start of in-person classes for 5th-6th grade elementary and 1st-year middle school students.

However, according to the Ministry of Education’s policy to apply density standards limiting the number of students attending in metropolitan area kindergartens, elementary, and middle schools where the risk of COVID-19 infection is high, the actual number of students attending school is only about one-third to two-thirds of the total students.

Except for 3rd-year high school and 3rd-year middle school students, most are taking remote classes concurrently, so in-person classes are expected to proceed in a biweekly or alternate-day system.

As a result, parents collectively voiced that this method of attending school is merely a formal policy, and that the right to education and safety are not truly considered, calling it a "nominal return to school."

A in their 30s living in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, said, "I have an elementary school child, and I am very worried that they might get infected with COVID-19 if I send them to school," adding, "The so-called 'return to school classes' means there are more days when they don’t go to school than when they do, so I don’t understand why they have to attend school." They further added, "Isn’t this just increasing the risk of infection?" expressing doubts about the effectiveness of in-person classes.

Additionally, parents continue to criticize through comments on portal site news and social media, saying things like, "Meaningless attendance will only cause hardship for parents, teachers, and medical staff," "Since attendance is alternating anyway, isn’t it better to safely conduct online classes?" and "Rather than conducting full investigations after confirmed cases occur, shouldn’t we block the transmission routes to prevent cases from happening at all?"

On the morning of the 8th, when the 4th phase of in-person classes for 5th to 6th grade elementary and 1st grade middle school students began, students wearing summer uniforms with shorts were arriving at a middle school in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Survey results show that more than six out of ten parents believe that in-person classes should be withdrawn if infection spreads.

According to a poll conducted on the 1st by Realmeter, a public opinion research firm, commissioned by YTN, surveying 500 adults aged 18 and over nationwide about the "timing to withdraw in-person classes for elementary, middle, and high schools," 55.8% of the public responded that "in-person classes should be withdrawn when infection spreads." By age group, relatively high response rates were recorded among those in their 40s (74.3%) and 50s (66.6%), who have a higher proportion of parents.

In particular, among parents of elementary, middle, and high school students, 64.7% responded that "in-person classes should be withdrawn if infection spreads," a higher figure than the general public’s response rate. Additionally, 34.9% of the public said that "in-person classes should be immediately withdrawn and switched to remote classes."

Experts foresee the need to switch to high-intensity social distancing to block the spread of infection.

Professor Lee Jaegab, an infectious disease specialist at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, explained on the 8th on YTN Radio’s "Noh Younghee’s Start Morning," "As COVID-19 spreads in places like small churches and table tennis halls, the baseline number of confirmed cases is increasing to the 30s and 40s, and among them, undetected infections are increasing, so overall patterns of community infection are gradually rising."

Professor Lee added, "The basic reproduction number is also continuously rising, so if we do not strongly suppress and reduce the outbreak, there could be many more patients in 2 to 3 weeks. We need to find a sharp method to make the curve go downward again in the current situation, but until a vaccine is available, there is no special method other than social distancing. This week might be the last chance to suppress the outbreak situation in the metropolitan area," emphasizing the urgency.

Meanwhile, Yoo Eunhye, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, presided over the "In-Person Class Support Status Check Meeting" held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 8th, stating, "If a situation arises where student safety is threatened, we will make swift decisions and respond without hesitation."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo emphasized, "We are well aware of the great concerns of students and parents. The government has established a 24-hour response system to respond quickly to any situation, and the education offices, schools, and health authorities are responding promptly through a hotline."

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