'Online School' Returns to 5 Months Ago... Defending the December 3rd CSAT (Comprehensive)

Emergency Briefing by Minister of Education and Metropolitan Area Superintendents

Yoo Eun-hye: "We Must Curb the Spread This Week to Protect Schools"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye and metropolitan area superintendents of education are moving to the briefing room in the main building of the Government Seoul Office on the 25th to announce the transition to remote classes for kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools located in the metropolitan area. From the left, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; Lee Jae-jung, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education; Deputy Prime Minister Yoo; Do Sung-hoon, Superintendent of Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The policy of full remote classes implemented in all schools in the Seoul metropolitan area for about three weeks essentially means turning back the clock to the situation before the online school opening in March. This strong measure aims to proactively prevent entering social distancing level 3. On the 25th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said in an emergency briefing, "This measure is not a level 3 action but the strongest possible under level 2," adding, "We must definitely curb the spread this week to protect schools."

The Ministry of Education and metropolitan area education offices previously held a meeting at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and agreed to take the strongest possible preemptive measures available under social distancing level 2 to overcome the current infectious disease crisis. Since most schools start the second semester this week, adjusting attendance to about one-third is expected to make it difficult to implement learning and quarantine measures at schools.

Suspending in-person attendance and switching to remote classes involve various issues such as academic gaps, child care, and educational evaluation. Based on the experience of switching to online classes in the first semester, the Ministry of Education also promised thorough preparation related to care, quarantine, and learning. First, regarding concerns about care gaps, the Ministry decided to provide care services equivalent to 'emergency care.' They plan to secure sufficient on-campus spaces for children from families in need of care and actively utilize internal personnel pools such as after-school instructors and retired teachers. Lunch will also be provided. Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "We will operate an emergency care system for all students in need," adding, "Students will be distributed about 10 per care classroom to ensure sufficient distance between students, and care will be provided from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m."

Preemptive Measures to Prevent Escalation to Social Distancing Level 3
Preparation for Care Gaps Including Emergency Care Services
Guaranteeing Basic Academic Skills and Minimizing Learning Loss

To minimize academic gaps and learning loss caused by remote classes, students will be guided to use online content for elementary and middle school that allows self-assessment of basic academic skills. Various learning contents will be shared by 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education. Do Seong-hoon, Superintendent of Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "We will support closing learning gaps and guaranteeing basic academic skills through the Learning Comprehensive Clinic Center."

Quarantine measures for private academies in the metropolitan area will also be strengthened. Lee Jae-jung, Superintendent of Gyeonggi-do Office of Education, said, "A gathering restriction order for academies and private institutes with fewer than 300 people was issued under the name of the Governor of Gyeonggi-do," adding, "We also strongly requested the suspension of operations for large academies with 300 or more people, including boarding academies." The superintendent explained, "Although there are difficulties in academy management and academy education is essential for students preparing for entrance exams, this is currently the best measure to prevent infection."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is announcing the transition to remote classes for kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools located in the metropolitan area at the briefing room of the main building of the Government Seoul Office on the 25th. From the left, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education; Do Seong-hoon, Superintendent of Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education; Lee Jae-jung, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education; and Deputy Prime Minister Yoo. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

In the case of special schools, the school and metropolitan/provincial offices of education will consult to decide academic operation plans. The Ministry of Education plans to support face-to-face education such as 1:1 or 1:2 school-home sessions if quarantine rules are followed. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Even in situations where face-to-face counseling is difficult due to the switch to remote classes, we will continuously provide psychological quarantine for students and staff," adding, "We will establish a close cooperation system with local governments and police authorities to carefully monitor and prevent any possible child abuse or neglect."

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