From the 19th, Daily Attendance for 1st Graders in Seoul... Expanded School Days for 7th Graders (Comprehensive)

Change Policy to Daily Attendance for 1st Graders Considering 3rd Graders
Schools with Fewer than 300 Students Can Have Over Two-Thirds Attendance

The above photo is not related to the article. Photo by Jang Jin-hyeong aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Starting from the 19th, first graders in elementary schools in Seoul will attend school every day, and first graders in middle schools will have increased in-person school days.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that after a one-week preparation period beginning on the 12th, the density in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools will be eased to two-thirds starting next week.

Specifically, the plan states that first graders in elementary school will attend school daily as a principle, while other grades will attend school 2-3 days or 2-4 days per week. For first graders in middle school, the number of school days will be increased. Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon initially proposed to the Ministry of Education that first graders in middle school attend school daily along with first graders in elementary school, but considering that third graders in middle school are preparing for high school entrance, the direction was shifted to expanding attendance days. However, the Seoul Office of Education explained, "After the third graders' final exams and other regular tests are over, we will actively encourage the expansion of attendance for first graders in middle school."

With the change in the criteria for small-sized schools, schools with 300 or fewer students will be able to conduct in-person classes at a rate exceeding two-thirds, depending on the opinions of school members and school conditions. There are a total of 132 schools in Seoul with 300 or fewer students: 76 elementary schools, 45 middle schools, and 11 high schools.

The Seoul Office of Education stated that in response to the expansion of in-person classes, they will strengthen school-specific quarantine measures suitable for flexible academic operations, such as mask-wearing and social distancing, enhanced quarantine measures during meal processes, and adjustment of break times. Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon said, "We expect that expanding in-person classes for early-stage students will contribute to adapting to school life during the COVID-19 period and reducing educational disparities," and added, "We will spare no effort to support improvements in the combination of in-person and remote classes."

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