Limit on Attendance at All Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Nationwide Lowered to Two-Thirds for Second Semester

Ministry of Education Eases Measures to Minimize Density in Seoul Metropolitan Area and Gwangju as COVID-19 Spread Concerns Subside
Concerns Rise Over Increase in Students Below Basic Academic Proficiency Due to Remote Classes

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Since the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Ministry of Education has decided to implement the enhanced density minimization measures for schools in the metropolitan area (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi) and Gwangju region, which were carried out from the end of May and early July respectively, only until the end of the first semester as originally planned. Accordingly, from the second semester, students in these areas will attend in-person classes more frequently, just like students in other regions.

On the 31st, the Ministry of Education announced, "After collecting opinions from metropolitan and provincial offices of education, teacher organizations, and school sites, and consulting with quarantine authorities such as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, it has been decided to ease the enhanced density minimization measures in the metropolitan and Gwangju areas to the same level as other regions."

Accordingly, the restriction on the number of students attending school in these areas will be relaxed from the current one-third to two-thirds. The academic operation plan for the second semester must also be established in accordance with limiting attendance to two-thirds. However, the Ministry of Education added that it is necessary to maintain density minimization measures during the first week of the semester to check the in-school quarantine situation and address vulnerabilities.

If the infectious disease crisis level remains at level 1 as it is now, the density of all schools nationwide will be maintained within the existing two-thirds limit. Detailed attendance plans by grade, including for third-year high school students, will be autonomously decided by metropolitan and provincial offices of education and schools, comprehensively considering regional conditions, school level characteristics, and opinions of students and parents. However, considering the effectiveness of classes and learning as well as quarantine conditions, continuous or biweekly attendance is recommended over alternate-day attendance.

Furthermore, the expansion of face-to-face attendance and enrollment classes for kindergarten children’s play-centered curriculum and ensuring basic academic skills for lower-grade elementary students will be entrusted to school autonomy. The density application standards will be relaxed to allow schools to operate face-to-face classes autonomously and in various ways, such as morning and afternoon sessions or dividing classes.

The Ministry of Education’s decision to ease the attendance restrictions for the second semester appears to be influenced by the judgment that concerns about COVID-19 transmission have decreased compared to the first semester, along with worries that the increase in remote learning days may lead to more students falling behind in basic academic skills.

Following the announcement of the academic operation plan for the second semester on this day, the Ministry of Education plans to announce specific academic operation plans including curriculum, classes, evaluation, and records, as well as measures to reduce educational disparities, early next month after collecting opinions from metropolitan and provincial offices of education.

Additionally, during the summer vacation, the Ministry will strengthen learning support in cooperation with metropolitan and provincial offices of education by operating intensive study classrooms for students lacking basic academic skills or running subject-tailored after-school programs.

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