Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education, "Protect Children's Health and Right to Learn Amid COVID-19 Crisis"

Superintendent Jang Seok-woong held a video conference with frontline schools in the province through the Jeonnam Video Conference System. Photo by Jeonnam Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam Province, strongly urged frontline schools that started the second semester amid the nationwide spread of COVID-19 to approach the situation with extraordinary determination to protect both the health and learning rights of the children.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education on the 2nd, Superintendent Jang and education office executives held a video conference with frontline schools across the province through the Jeonnam video conference system in the main office situation room.

Superintendent Jang held video conferences three times in the morning and afternoon with principals of elementary, middle, and high schools to discuss quarantine measures and academic operation plans for the second semester in response to the spread of COVID-19.

Superintendent Jang requested, “Please adhere to the ‘enhanced density minimization’ measures currently implemented due to the elevation to social distancing level 2 (one-third attendance for kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools; two-thirds attendance for high schools and specialized high schools; excluding density measures for high school seniors and small schools with fewer than 60 students or schools located in farming, fishing, and rural areas), and minimize learning loss through solid remote and in-person classes.”

He added, “Since there is great concern about learning loss due to the cancellation of full attendance for the second semester following the first semester, frontline school teachers must make even more thorough efforts to ensure the quality of remote and in-person classes.”

The video conference held for high school principals on this day focused on strengthening guidance for university admissions in light of the imminent 2021 academic year college entrance.

The participating principals expressed their opinions, saying, “During remote classes in the first semester, support from the education office for socially disadvantaged students who faced relatively greater difficulties was very helpful,” and “We hope that more attention and consideration will be given to these students in the second semester to prevent learning gaps.”

Meanwhile, the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education plans to ensure that high school principals in the province do not neglect career and academic guidance while thoroughly implementing COVID-19 infection prevention measures.

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