No Postponement of CSAT, but Ministry of Education Preparing a 'Plan B'?

"We will ensure the CSAT proceeds without any disruptions"

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye and superintendents of education from the Seoul metropolitan area are announcing the transition to remote classes for kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools located in the metropolitan area on the 25th at the briefing room of the main building of the Government Seoul Office. 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; Deputy Prime Minister Yoo. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Whether the education authorities' decision to switch all levels of schools to remote classes will affect the schedule of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), which is just 100 days away, has become a matter of intense interest.

The Ministry of Education emphasized that this remote class measure was taken to prevent the unprecedented situation of postponing the CSAT and for now has dismissed the possibility of a 'CSAT postponement.' In this regard, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said at an emergency briefing with metropolitan area superintendents on the morning of the 25th, "We will do our best to block the spread of the infectious disease and quickly restore calm so that the CSAT can proceed without disruption."

The Ministry of Education decided to switch kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools in the metropolitan area to remote classes until the 11th of next month due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), but excluded third-year high school students from this measure. In the same context, even if social distancing is raised to level 3, it is highly likely that attendance for third-year high school students will be maintained. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo left room for consideration by saying in a Q&A with reporters, "It is difficult to speak on the assumption of the situation," but "Considering the special nature of third-year high school students as this is an important time for them."

This year's CSAT was postponed by two weeks from November 19 to December 3 due to multiple delays in the start of the first semester's online classes. The Ministry of Education has consistently maintained the position of 'proceeding as scheduled' whenever rumors of postponement arose. At a press conference held on the 16th, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "We will prepare for the CSAT as scheduled," but seemingly mindful of the unpredictable COVID-19 spread, she added, "Regarding various situations afterward, we will make a comprehensive judgment and prepare a 'Plan B' if necessary," thus not completely dispelling the 'CSAT postponement rumors.' Accordingly, whether the COVID-19 spread will subside around the Ministry of Education's planned remote class end date of September 11 is expected to be a key variable. When an earthquake occurred in Pohang the day before the 2017 CSAT, the government postponed the exam by one week.

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