[Q&A] Yoo Eun-hye "From the 19th, up to two-thirds of students will attend school; full attendance requires caution"

Ministry of Education Announces Academic Operation Plan After Chuseok Holiday Special Quarantine Period

Elementary Lower Grades Attend School at Least 3 Times a Week
Small Schools Standard Raised from 60 to 300 Students
Resumption of Large Academies with Over 300 Students

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is making an announcement on the academic operation plan after the special quarantine period during the Chuseok holiday at the Government Seoul Office on the 11th. Following the easing of social distancing to Level 1, the attendance rate for kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide will be adjusted to two-thirds. (Provided by the Ministry of Education)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye announced on the 11th that the density standard for kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide, including the Seoul metropolitan area, has been relaxed to two-thirds in accordance with the adjustment of social distancing to level 1. This was announced considering the need to ease social distancing stages and the continuous demand for expanding school attendance as an academic operation plan after the special quarantine period during the Chuseok holiday.

To allow schools sufficient time to prepare for academic operations, the period from the 12th to the 18th will be operated as a preparation period, and the measures will be fully applied from the 19th. Large academies with more than 300 people will resume operations with eased gathering restrictions. The criteria for small schools eligible for density exceptions have been adjusted from the previous standard of 60 or fewer students to around 300 students. Even under social distancing level 2, lower grades of elementary schools must expand attendance to at least three times a week. The following is a Q&A with Deputy Prime Minister Yoo and officials from the Ministry of Education.

▲ Does operating morning and afternoon shifts mean that all students can attend school?

= (Deputy Prime Minister Yoo) Schools and education offices can autonomously decide, so full attendance is possible, but I ask for great caution regarding full attendance of all students at once in the same manner as before. Various methods of full attendance can be possible under the two-thirds density principle.

▲ Is it a matter that each education office can autonomously decide on full attendance, or must there be prior consultation with local quarantine authorities and the Ministry of Education?

= (Deputy Prime Minister Yoo) It can be decided autonomously, but even so, metropolitan and provincial education offices will strengthen consultations to share information with the Ministry of Education in real time so that swift joint responses can be taken.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is announcing the academic operation plan after the special quarantine period during the Chuseok holiday at the Government Seoul Office on the 11th. (Provided by the Ministry of Education)

▲ Does this mean that in the Seoul metropolitan area, density adjustment is not possible depending on the region or school conditions under level 1? Also, until when must compliance be maintained?

= (Deputy Prime Minister Yoo) The principle to maintain two-thirds density in the Seoul metropolitan area was emphasized again today by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) because the risk of infection remains higher in the metropolitan area compared to other regions. The criteria for small schools eligible for density exceptions under social distancing level 2 will be expanded to around 300 students.

▲ There have been issues at schools regarding meal times and care hours due to operating morning and afternoon shifts. Teacher organizations are expected to oppose this. What is your response?

= (Deputy Prime Minister Yoo) Since the social distancing level has been eased to level 1, attendance is possible while maintaining two-thirds density. I believe that expanding attendance through methods other than morning and afternoon shifts is also possible. We will consult with education offices to gather opinions on ways to support teachers' workload.

▲ Was the daily attendance plan for 1st graders in elementary school and 1st graders in middle school, proposed by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, excluded from the policy?

= (Sangsoo Lee, Director of School Innovation Support Office) The easing measure was not excluded. For 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school, attendance is arranged to be at least three days a week. For middle schools, since attendance is possible nationwide while maintaining two-thirds density, it is expected that the demands related to attendance of 1st-year middle school students will be reflected within schools.

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