Ministry of Education: "School Principals' Discretionary Flexible Academic Operation Maintained Even After New Semester Adaptation Week"

After the 14th, School Principals Can Autonomously Decide Academic Operation Plans
Ministry of Education: "Separate Guidance Will Be Provided Once Confirmed Cases Peak and Spread Declines"
From the 14th, Students Can Attend School After Testing Without Quarantine Even If Cohabiting Family Members Are Confirmed Positive

As the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant continues, children are heading to school on the morning of the 2nd, when elementary, middle, and high schools reopened, at Geumyang Elementary School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education has decided to maintain the flexible academic operation methods, such as shortened or staggered classes by school and full remote classes, which were to be applied for two weeks after the start of the semester, until the spread of COVID-19 subsides.

At the briefing on the status of school quarantine measures in response to Omicron for the new semester on the 10th, a Ministry of Education official stated, "Although the adaptation week for the new semester ends this week, the guidelines for flexible academic operations will be maintained considering the infection situation in schools and regions thereafter."

The official explained, "Since the number of confirmed cases has not yet peaked, separate guidance on academic operation policies will be provided after the spread subsides," adding, "The current academic operation policies will be communicated to each school within this week."

Regarding academic operation plans, the Ministry of Education shared related information with metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education at the emergency inspection support group meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye on the 8th, and also conveyed it to the working-level staff.

Among the academic operation plans announced by the Ministry of Education on the 7th of last month, the 'full remote classes' policy is to be decided through consultation among the Ministry of Education, education offices, and schools; however, it was previously informed that for two weeks after the semester starts, school principals can decide independently. Regardless of the rate of confirmed cases or attendance suspension, partial remote classes, shortened classes, or adjustments to school density can all be decided at the discretion of the school principal.

Starting from the 14th, even if a student or staff member's cohabiting family member tests positive, they will be allowed to attend school without quarantine regardless of vaccination status. They must undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within three days and a rapid antigen test on days 6 to 7.

In response to concerns from parents about the removal of quarantine amid increasing confirmed cases among students and staff after the semester begins, a Ministry of Education official said, "We are consulting with health authorities regarding these concerns," adding, "Proactive testing is conducted twice a week, and testing on days 3 and 7 is recommended. We also advise waiting at home until test results are confirmed, and additional testing is conducted if confirmed cases arise within schools, among other supplementary measures."

With a sharp increase in confirmed cases among teachers, securing substitute personnel is particularly challenging in the metropolitan area. Especially, the Seoul and Gyeonggi education offices are actively securing substitute personnel pools by utilizing teachers on leave and relaxing selection criteria for retired teachers. A Ministry of Education official explained, "Gyeonggi-do and Seoul plan to more actively form various substitute personnel pools and consider supporting schools with personnel at the support office level."

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will expand the number of pediatric specialized base hospitals by region from the current 28 to 63 to enable pediatric and adolescent patients confirmed with COVID-19 to receive face-to-face or inpatient treatment at hospitals. Among the 28 pediatric specialized base hospitals, none are designated in Seoul, Sejong, Gangwon, or Jeju.

A Ministry of Education official explained, "Since high-risk students with underlying conditions may be at risk, we will secure hospital beds where pediatric patients can receive face-to-face treatment or inpatient care in general wards to minimize inconvenience for parents and pediatric and adolescent hospital care."

The Ministry of Education operates 24 mobile PCR testing sites nationwide. In cases of cluster infections, schools can be visited or students can visit specimen collection team locations for testing; currently, 100 teams are operating. Metropolitan and provincial education offices and support offices have organized 260 emergency support teams (1,364 personnel) to assist with school self-surveys and diagnostic testing.

The Ministry of Education has completed hiring 87.3% (61,685) of the planned 73,060 school quarantine personnel and plans to continue hiring until the end of this month. In cooperation with the Council of University Education, a demand survey for hiring nursing and health-related university students as quarantine personnel will be conducted until the 11th, followed by support for recruitment.

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