Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon: "Flexible Operation of Classes and Meals... Must Keep Possibility of Remote Classes Open"

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Urges Flexible Operation of Classes and Meals by School
Appeals to Academy Workers to Participate in Vaccination and PCR Testing

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, is holding a press conference on the 3rd anniversary of his inauguration at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 6th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has decided to maintain the existing school attendance standards until social distancing measures are raised, but will operate class and meal times flexibly according to each school's situation.

On the 8th, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, urged, "If the outbreak situation continues to worsen at schools, please prepare thoroughly for all related matters while keeping the possibility of switching to remote classes open to ensure there is no gap in childcare."

Superintendent Cho appealed to academy workers to participate in priority vaccination and proactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. He said, "Please actively participate in priority vaccination and proactive PCR testing, and cooperate in creating a safe educational environment for students by strictly adhering to quarantine rules."

He also requested students and parents to refrain from using multi-use facilities. Superintendent Cho said, "After final exams, please refrain from using multi-use facilities such as PC rooms and karaoke rooms, and actively participate in following quarantine rules to prevent infections within families from spreading to schools."

On the same day, the Ministry of Education announced that the current two-thirds attendance standard, which allows full attendance up to social distancing level 2, will be maintained. Schools can decide on early vacations or switching to remote classes. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education had announced the day before that it would consider proactive switching to remote classes if the level is raised to 3, but after an unofficial survey showed that schools prefer to maintain the current system, the policy was changed.

From the 13th, vaccination will begin for kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 teachers and childcare workers. Vaccination for grade 12 students and high school staff will start from the 19th to the 30th, and for other elementary and middle school staff from the 28th.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will also conduct mobile specimen team PCR testing from the 8th to the 30th. Testing will be conducted at 3 schools starting on the 8th and at 6 schools starting on the 12th.

For the second semester, quarantine personnel will be supported at 2,127 schools. A total of 6,062 people will be hired, with 4 personnel assigned to schools with more than 1,500 students and 1 person assigned to schools with fewer than 500 students.

Before the start of the second semester, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will support school meal quarantine personnel and nutritionists. From August 17 to October 29, a supplementary budget of 5 billion KRW will be invested to support personnel at 813 out of 1,349 schools (60%).

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