Assemblyman Seodongyong: "Measures Must Be Prepared for Students Who Entered School During the COVID-19 Period"

Increase in Unexcused Absences After Returning to Normal School Attendance Post-COVID, 10,353 Students Until June

School Maladjustment Unexcused Absences Also Rose to 23.1% in 2023, Up from 16.2% in 2020 and 21.9% in 2021

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] According to the status of students with long-term unexcused absences (unrecognized long-term absences) of 7 days or more by metropolitan and provincial offices of education, submitted by the Ministry of Education to Seo Dong-yong, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea (Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye district), the number of unexcused absences among elementary, middle, and high school students in the first half of this year, when academic operations normalized after COVID-19, has increased to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Regardless of the COVID-19 situation, the number of students nationwide who were absent without permission for 7 days or more since the start of full in-person attendance this year reached 10,353 over five months from early February to the end of June.

This is similar to the 10,353 students with long-term unexcused absences recorded during the entire year of 2020 when remote classes were conducted due to COVID-19, and also comparable to the 13,109 students in 2021 when remote classes were held during the first semester.

Considering that the number of unexcused absences in 2019, before COVID-19, was 19,043 for the entire year, this represents a rapid increase in a short period.

Given the prolonged absence of students from school due to COVID-19, there is a call to review the safety management system for school-age children and students.

Looking at the reasons for unexcused absences in 2022, the need for a safety management system for preschool and unexcused absent students appears to be high.

By reason for unexcused absence, the largest group was due to alternative education, accounting for 3,403 students or 33.7% of the total, followed by unexcused absences due to school maladjustment with 2,329 students or 23.1%.

Overseas departure and homeschooling accounted for 17.1% and 14.0%, respectively.

Of particular concern is the increase in unexcused absences due to school maladjustment, which rose compared to 16.2% in 2020 when academic operations were mainly remote classes due to COVID-19, and 21.9% in 2021 when remote classes were centered until the first semester.

By school level, elementary students had the highest number of unexcused absences at 4,561, followed by middle school students at 3,730, and high school students at 1,801. By region, Gyeonggi Province had 4,345 students, and Seoul had 1,299 students with long-term unexcused absences.

Regarding this, Assemblyman Seo Dong-yong pointed out, “Most classes over the past two years were conducted remotely, and among the current first and second graders who entered elementary, middle, and high schools during this period, there may be students struggling to adapt to school.” He added, “With the full normalization of schools, it is necessary to secure student safety at the boundary inside and outside schools and to prepare concrete measures for educational recovery.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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