Fully Committed to Recovering Student Deficits in 2nd Semester... Additional Support for Curriculum Supplementation and Quarantine Personnel

Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Announces Support Measures for Education Recovery in Second Semester
Expanded Attendance Before September 6, Schools Allowed Autonomy
6.2 Billion Won Support for Kidari Saem Project... Over 5,700 Quarantine Personnel Supported

On the morning of the 17th, when a significant number of elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide opened, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (far left), visited Woljeong Elementary School in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, which started the second semester classes, wearing a traffic volunteer vest. 2021.8.17 Photo by Joint Press Corps

To recover students' deficits in learning and social skills, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will start intensive supplementary curriculum programs from the second semester. To allow schools to focus on expanding in-person attendance, about 5,700 quarantine personnel will be deployed, and administrative tasks such as school audits will be temporarily suspended to significantly reduce administrative burdens.

On the 19th, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, held a press conference on focused support plans for educational recovery, stating, "Based on strengthening a thorough school quarantine safety net, we will ensure that autonomous and flexible attendance at each school leads to expanded in-person attendance, and we will provide financial support to reduce school administrative tasks, setting a new standard for administration and filling educational gaps."

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will allow flexible attendance according to school circumstances even before the second phase expansion of attendance in the second week of September (before September 6). From the 6th, in level 4 areas, elementary grades 3 to 6 can attend at half capacity, middle schools at two-thirds capacity, and high schools can have full attendance. Full attendance is also allowed in level 3 areas. Initially, the Ministry of Education announced that after the start of the semester until September 3, in level 4 areas, elementary grades 1 and 2, middle schools at one-third capacity, and high schools at two-thirds capacity would be allowed to attend. However, this means that in Seoul schools where conditions permit, it is possible to expand attendance even before the 6th.

On the morning of the 17th, when a significant number of elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide reopened after summer vacation, the principal (far left) and Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (far right), welcomed first and second-grade students at the main gate of Woljeong Elementary School in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. In metropolitan area elementary schools, first and second graders attend school in person while the other grades receive remote classes, and in non-metropolitan area elementary schools, first and second graders attend school daily, with three-quarters of students from third to sixth grade attending in person. August 17, 2021 Photo by Joint Press Corps

From the second semester, efforts to recover learning and emotional/social skills will be strengthened in preparation for phased attendance expansion. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has allocated an additional budget of 734.4 billion KRW to promote △ deficit recovery (103.8 billion KRW) △ quarantine support (41.4 billion KRW) △ future education environment improvement (137.2 billion KRW), among others.

To support learning recovery, the Kidari Saem project (6.2 billion KRW) provides supplementary curriculum classes in small groups of about six students, and after-school tuition support (3.2 billion KRW) is offered. For emotional and social recovery, 2.1 billion KRW will be invested in establishing and operating WeClass. Additionally, 46 billion KRW has been allocated as educational recovery project funds that schools can use autonomously, with 50 million KRW per school.

Support for quarantine personnel has also been significantly increased. An additional 2,327 personnel will be added to the 3,486 supported last semester, allowing extra staff to be assigned to meal services and health rooms. Budgets have also been prepared for meal distribution support and installation of restaurant partitions.

To focus on educational recovery, a ‘subtractive proactive administration’ approach will be promoted. Comprehensive school audits will be temporarily suspended, and administrative burdens will be reduced by extending quarantine personnel contracts and adjusting working hours. Schools can autonomously decide whether to implement the purpose projects for which budgets have been allocated.

Efforts to improve the future education environment will continue. School Digital Media Centers will be established in 525 schools to enable existing school broadcasting rooms to be used for remote classes and broadcasting content production. Tablets will be distributed at a ratio of one per student for first-year middle school students to support remote education, and AI classrooms will be established in 194 schools.

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