8 out of 10 People Are 'Positive' About Expanding In-Person Attendance in the Second Semester

90% of Parents Respond Positively to Expanded School Attendance
Students, Parents, and Teachers Prefer In-Person Attendance More at Lower School Levels
Less Than Half (47.2%) of High School Students Facing Entrance Exams Have Positive Views
'Staff Vaccination' Most Cited as Necessary Strengthened Quarantine Measure

Proportion of combined responses of neutral, positive, and very positive by school level and survey target regarding the expansion of in-person attendance in the second semester (percentages in parentheses exclude 'neutral' responses). (Data provided by the Ministry of Education)

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education conducted a survey targeting parents, students, and teachers regarding full in-person attendance for the second semester, and 8 out of 10 respondents answered positively.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Education collected opinions on perceptions of full in-person attendance and measures to strengthen quarantine support from a total of 1,652,170 people, including 950,000 parents, 530,000 students from grades 3 in elementary school to grade 12 in high school, and 140,000 teachers. As a result, 81.4% responded positively to expanding in-person attendance. Excluding the 'neutral' responses, the positive and very positive response rate was 65.7%. The largest group was very positive (39.8%), followed by positive (25.9%), neutral (15.7%), very negative (9.8%), and negative (8.7%).

The group most favorable to expanding in-person attendance was parents. Including 'neutral' responses, 90.5% of parents showed a positive reaction. Teachers were at 70.3%, and students at 69.7%. Among parents, students, and teachers, the preference for in-person attendance was higher at lower school levels.

Students showed less enthusiasm for expanding in-person attendance compared to parents. When considering only positive and very positive responses, the proportion of students supporting expanded attendance fell below half. The positive and very positive response rates were 49.7% for students, 52.4% for teachers, and 77.7% for parents. Notably, only 26.1% of high school students expressed strong positive opinions. This is interpreted as a preference for remote classes ahead of college entrance exams.

Regarding measures considered most necessary to strengthen school quarantine related to expanding in-person attendance, 'promotion of vaccination for school staff' (59.7%) was the top choice. This was followed by ▲supplementing school quarantine guidelines (45.4%) ▲improving meal service operation plans (41.8%). Operation of intensive quarantine weeks (26.5%), support for quarantine helpers (24.7%), and activation of mobile specimen collection teams (21.3%) followed.

Regarding areas where support is needed after expanding in-person attendance in the second semester, 6 out of 10 respondents chose 'supplementing academic learning capabilities to address learning loss' (60.4%). Next were ▲support for student activities such as off-campus experiential learning (49.6%) ▲support for psychological and emotional recovery (31.9%).

Among previously supported policies, the most effective were ▲support for quarantine personnel at each school (44.9%) ▲guidance on remote class operation standards and principles for school operation density (37.0%) ▲rental and support of smart devices for teachers and students (32.1%).

The Ministry of Education plans to announce the implementation plan for full in-person attendance in the second semester, including measures to strengthen school quarantine, on the 20th, reflecting field opinions.

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