From the 21st, All Kindergartens and Schools in Gangwon-do Switch to 'Remote Classes'

Provincial Office of Education, "Minimize Density and Operate for the Shortest Time Only When Absolutely Necessary"
Donghae Region Postpones Final Exams and Implements Special Disinfection in All Schools

Min Byung-hee, Superintendent of Gangwon Provincial Office of Education [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] As the spread of COVID-19 infections continues in the Gangwon region, all schools and kindergartens in Gangwon Province will switch entirely to remote classes starting from the 21st.

The Gangwon Provincial Office of Education announced on the 19th, "Due to the consecutive outbreaks of COVID-19 infections among students and staff within the province, all schools will switch to remote video classes starting from the 21st."

This measure is to protect the safety of students and staff from large-scale infection spread, considering the continuous occurrence of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the local community and the consecutive confirmed cases among students and staff in schools.

In the Donghae area, where confirmed cases are rapidly increasing, all classes will switch to remote learning for two weeks, and the scheduled final exam dates will be postponed. Additionally, special disinfection will be conducted for all schools in the Donghae area.

Other areas excluding Donghae will also switch entirely to remote classes for two weeks; however, if attendance is unavoidable due to academic schedules such as evaluations, the school principal will minimize density and strictly enforce distancing and quarantine guidelines, operating for the minimum necessary time.

During the full remote learning period, emergency care for special schools, kindergartens, and 1st and 2nd graders in elementary schools will be provided only to students from families that truly need care, minimizing density. Accordingly, school sports team group training and athlete dormitory operations will also be suspended.

The Provincial Office of Education will also strengthen supervision of private academies within the province and recommend that academies switch to remote classes. If academies violate quarantine rules, local governments may impose fines, suspend operations, or claim damages.

Min Byung-hee, Superintendent of Education of Gangwon Province, presided over an emergency video meeting with city and county education directors on the same day and said, "The regional spread of COVID-19 and infections within schools require more than just awareness; bold decisions are necessary at this time," and urged, "Please thoroughly manage students' classes and daily lives to ensure that the end-of-year wrap-up is not neglected during remote class operations."

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