Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education to Implement 'One-Third Classes' for All Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Starting from the 21st

First Grade Elementary Students Widely Exempted as Care Students... Kindergarten Also Strengthened to '15 or Fewer Students per Class'

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 16th that from the 21st until the winter vacation for elementary, middle, and high schools, in-person classes will be conducted applying the 'one-third occupancy principle' within schools.

This measure by the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education is a desperate countermeasure following the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' elevation of social distancing to level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas on the 6th, as the spread of COVID-19 has not subsided.

Under social distancing level 2, school occupancy can be operated up to two-thirds, but the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education explained that they decided this way prioritizing students' safety as the top criterion.

However, for first graders in elementary school, considering the need for care, daily attendance is the principle (except for students who find daily attendance difficult), and for other grades, exceptions to the occupancy application criteria will be recognized in unavoidable cases such as care and basic academic guidance students.

Kindergartens will also strengthen the previous daily attendance standard of 24 or fewer students per class to '15 or fewer students per class including children requiring care.' If the number exceeds 15, attendance will be divided into 2 to 3 shifts.

Special schools will continue as before: schools with fewer than 200 students attend daily. Schools exceeding 200 students will split classes and attend on alternate days, but schools with plans and preparations for enhanced quarantine to ensure smooth school educational activities may allow daily attendance even if exceeding 200 students.

Superintendent Kang Eun-hee stated, "We judged the situation as very serious as the concern of the third wave of COVID-19 has become a reality, and strengthened the occupancy standards within schools for students' safety," adding, "As the proportion of remote classes increases, we will also make our best efforts to prevent learning loss among students."

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