Will Normal School Attendance Be Possible for the New Semester... Academic Operation Plan to Be Announced After Seol Holiday

Announcement of Academic Operation Plan for New Semester After Seollal Holiday
Consideration of Introducing Multiple Testing Systems in Schools

Due to the government's strengthened social distancing measures, full in-person attendance has been suspended at elementary, middle, and high schools in the metropolitan area, as well as at oversized and overcrowded schools in non-metropolitan areas. On the morning of December 20, 2021, remote classes were being conducted for second-year students at a middle school in Seoul. 2021. 12. 20

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education will announce the academic operation plan for the new semester shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday. With the number of COVID-19 cases surging due to the Omicron variant, it remains uncertain whether normal in-person classes can proceed as planned in the third year of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Education will release the new semester academic operation plan after the Lunar New Year holiday. Initially, the Ministry planned to promote normal in-person attendance from the new semester. However, as the Omicron variant has become dominant and daily confirmed cases continue to break records, there is a possibility that the existing policy may be revised.

Earlier this month, the Ministry announced in its 2022 work plan that normal in-person attendance would be implemented in all schools regardless of region or school level starting from the first semester. This was based on the situation before the Omicron variant became dominant and the increasing vaccination rate among 13-18 year-olds, aiming to expand school attendance.

Since January 26, daily COVID-19 cases have risen to the 10,000 range, and it is expected that daily cases will increase to 30,000 to 50,000 in February, creating significant variables for normal school attendance. As of midnight on the 29th, more than half of the daily confirmed cases (17,542) were among those aged 0-29.

The Ministry is considering introducing COVID-19 self-test kits in elementary, middle, and high schools from the new semester, alongside rapid PCR testing. This is due to changes after the Lunar New Year holiday, where rapid antigen tests will be conducted at screening clinics or respiratory clinics, and only those testing positive will receive PCR tests, necessitating a multi-testing system for school attendance.

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "To prepare for the March school opening, we are promoting a school testing system that utilizes not only the current PCR tests centered at public health centers but also rapid PCR and rapid antigen tests."

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "We have analyzed the pros and cons of self-test kits and are consulting with related agencies considering the school environment, student acceptance, and testing efficiency. We also need to comprehensively organize issues such as costs related to rapid PCR testing equipment and facilities, existing application cases, school acceptance, and reviews by health authorities."

A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official said, "School quarantine guidelines plan to respond differently to asymptomatic, symptomatic, and suspected cases to prepare for the spread of COVID-19, while considering ways to minimize budget and workload."

Since the end of January, with mid-semester openings beginning, school quarantine measures have been on high alert. This is because in-person classes will proceed for 1-2 weeks without new quarantine guidelines considering the Omicron variant.

From the end of this month to mid-next month, 4,730 schools nationwide (38%) will finish winter vacation and start mid-semester classes. The Ministry of Education has requested metropolitan and provincial offices of education to operate flexible academic schedules, including shortened classes or remote learning, for schools attending during January and February.

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