Seoul Kindergarteners and Grades 1-2 Attend School Daily Up to Social Distancing Level 2

Policy for Daily Attendance up to Social Distancing Level 2
Grade 12 Students Attend Daily Within Density Limits
Remote Classes to Be Real-Time Interactive by Default
Meal Service Provided Upon Request Even During Remote Classes

On the 23rd, marking the solar term Sanggang (霜降), which signifies the first frost and the coldest day of this autumn, children wearing thick coats are going to school in front of an elementary school in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that morning temperatures across most regions nationwide would drop to around 5 degrees Celsius, with daytime temperatures remaining below 15 degrees Celsius. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Kindergarteners and 1st and 2nd graders in Seoul will attend school every day up to social distancing level 2. Remote classes will be conducted primarily as real-time interactive communication lessons.

On the 24th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education prepared the 2021 school operation plan with these details. Measures related to attendance were established to minimize learning loss and prepare for in-person classes.

Up to social distancing level 2, kindergartens and 1st and 2nd graders in elementary schools are exempt from the density application principle. Additionally, students who require care, basic academic or emotional support, and newly arrived immigrant students needing face-to-face guidance are exempt from density standards at all levels.

The scope of small schools that can autonomously decide density principles up to level 2.5 has also expanded. Previously, it was around 300 students, but now it includes schools with 400 or fewer students where the average class size is 25 or less. As a result, the number of small schools that can autonomously decide attendance increases to 131 elementary schools, 118 middle schools, and 31 high schools.

The attendance criteria for 3rd-year high school students remain the same as last year. For 3rd-year high school students, daily attendance was the principle last year as well, as long as classroom density according to social distancing levels was observed. The classroom density standards announced by health authorities are: up to 2/3 capacity for levels 1 and 1.5, between 1/3 and 2/3 (2/3 for high schools) at level 2, 1/3 at level 2.5, and fully remote classes at level 3.

Remote classes are based on real-time interactive lessons. Real-time interactive communication classes can be conducted by appropriately mixing video conferencing, chat, content, and assignments according to the subject and student characteristics. To strengthen communication between teachers and students, students are required to participate in online classes at scheduled times according to their class timetable. Since real-time interactive communication is difficult in kindergartens, communication is conducted online and offline using physical play kits or ICT media.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education operates care classrooms prioritizing safety to prevent care gaps. When in-person and remote classes are combined, special aptitude programs are provided according to conditions considering classroom density, and minimal numbers are distributed during remote classes. Care services will also be maintained for after-school kindergarten children.

School quarantine measures have also been prepared. Quarantine supplies such as one thermometer per class, two hand sanitizers, and two health masks per person have been secured in line with attendance. At least 10% of the basic school operation budget is mandatorily allocated to quarantine activities. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and local districts, about 9,000 school quarantine personnel are supported, and approximately 250 health support instructors are assigned to classes with more than 1,000 students.

Students attending remote classes can flexibly eat school meals at school if they wish. This is confirmed by considering whether it is difficult to prepare meals at home and whether they want meals during remote classes. The decision on whether and when to implement flexible meals is made by judging local and school meal conditions, quarantine conditions, and traffic safety. If there is high demand for meals, expansion will be promoted step-by-step, prioritizing lower grades first.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "To sustain the expanded in-person classes from the new semester, COVID-19 vaccination for school staff (especially care and lower elementary teachers) must be prioritized," and added, "We will carefully monitor school sites and fully reflect the opinions of school members to ensure that in-person classes for students in Seoul proceed smoothly under thorough quarantine measures."

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