20% of Nationwide Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Reopen... Most Conduct In-Person Classes (Comprehensive)

Only 6.7% of Schools That Reopened Conducted Remote Classes
Majority of Elementary Schools to Reopen Next Week...Significant Increase in Attendance Rate

As COVID-19 cases surge and Level 4 social distancing measures are in effect, second semester in-person classes for 1st and 2nd grade elementary students began on the 17th. Students of Seongwon Elementary School in Mapo-gu are attending school. 2021.08.17 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] It has been reported that 20% of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide have started the new semester.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Education announced in a regular briefing that out of 20,512 kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools, 4,178 schools, accounting for 20.4%, have started the second semester, while 79.6% (16,334 schools) are still on vacation. Schools conducting remote classes nationwide accounted for 1.4% (280 schools), mostly located in the Seoul metropolitan area. Among the schools that have started, 6.7% are conducting remote classes.

Among the 5.93 million students nationwide, 4.8%, or 280,000 students, have returned to school. In the Seoul metropolitan area, 19.7% (1,527 schools) out of 7,768 schools have opened, and 3.5% (273 schools) of all schools in the metropolitan area are conducting remote classes.

This week, more than 60% of middle and high schools will start the semester, and with elementary schools beginning in earnest next week, the attendance rate is expected to increase significantly.

Currently, in level 4 areas, elementary and middle schools allow up to one-third attendance, and high schools allow up to two-thirds attendance. Until September 3, only grades 1 and 2 in elementary schools and one grade in middle schools can attend, and in high schools, only one grade excluding grade 3 can attend. Since grades 1 and 2 in elementary school and grade 3 in high school are not included in the school density criteria, full attendance is possible for these grades.

In level 3 areas, until September 3, elementary school grades 3 to 6 can attend up to three-quarters, and middle school students can attend up to two-thirds. High school students in grades 1 and 2 can attend fully. Metropolitan and provincial offices of education and schools can autonomously decide on attendance or remote classes.

After a preparation period immediately following the semester start, from September 6, full attendance will be implemented in level 3 areas. In level 4 areas, attendance is allowed up to two-thirds by school level. Elementary grades 3 to 6 can attend up to half, middle school students up to two-thirds, and high school students up to half or full attendance is possible.

However, immediately after the semester starts, Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Chungnam, Chungbuk, Gangwon, Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Ulsan, Sejong, and Jeju have decided to implement full attendance.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "Full attendance is difficult in the Seoul metropolitan area due to level 4, but in many non-metropolitan areas, full attendance is possible from the start of the semester, and in level 3 areas as well. However, in non-metropolitan areas with regional infection risks such as Jeju, Busan, and Daejeon, which are still at level 3, the infection situation at the time of semester start will be taken into consideration."

Along with the start of the second semester, the Ministry of Education revised the 'COVID-19 Infection Prevention Management Guidelines' to allow alternative meals and simple meals to be provided during the initial preparation period and from social distancing levels 3 and 4. Even if confirmed cases occur in schools after the semester starts, the entire school will not switch to remote classes; only the affected class or grade will be minimally switched to remote learning.

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