Only 15% of Special Schools Nationwide Conduct In-Person Classes... "Both Health and Learning Rights Must Be Guaranteed"

Only 28 out of 182 Schools Nationwide Conduct On-site Classes

On the afternoon of April 8, one day before the 'online school opening' implemented due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), teacher Park Donghae, in charge of the integrated science subject, is talking with students in a darkened classroom at the National Seoul School for the Blind in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Teacher Park, who is visually impaired, conducted the class with the lights off. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] It has been revealed that only 28 out of 182 special schools nationwide conducted in-person visits during the first semester of this year.

The Ministry of Education stated at the time of the online semester opening that "support such as (itinerant) visiting classes will be provided considering the type and degree of disability for students with disabilities," but in reality, the learning rights of students with disabilities attending special schools were significantly infringed upon.

According to data on the status of visiting classes conducted at special schools during the first semester online semester opening period, submitted by the Ministry of Education to Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party, only 28 special schools, accounting for 15% of the 182 schools nationwide, conducted visiting classes during the first semester online semester opening period.

In particular, Gyeonggi-do has the largest number of special schools among cities and provinces nationwide, with a total of 36 schools, but none of these conducted visiting classes. In Seoul, only one out of 32 special schools conducted visiting classes. On the other hand, Gwangju and Jeju each conducted visiting classes at all 5 and 3 special schools within their jurisdictions, respectively.

For reference, as of last September, 103 special schools were either fully attending in-person classes or combining in-person and remote classes for the second semester, while 75 special schools were conducting non-face-to-face online classes. Regarding this, Assemblyman Kang Deuk-gu raised concerns that non-face-to-face online classes are practically an impossible educational method for students with physical disabilities or severe and multiple disabilities.

Assemblyman Kang said, "Applying education methods centered on non-disabled students to students with disabilities who find it difficult even to turn on a computer is an incomprehensible measure from a common-sense perspective," and added, "There is a need to establish a more delicate, customized learning safety net that can protect both the health and learning rights of students with disabilities."

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