"National Medical Licensing Exam Schedule Postponed, No Grade Retention Exception"...Medical Schools Nationwide Submit Measures to Prevent Grade Retention

37 out of 40 Medical Schools Submitted
Ministry of Education "Discussing National Medical Exam Postponement with Ministry of Health and Welfare"
Flexible Measures Applied and Reviewed Including No Grade Retention and Completing F Subjects in Second Semester

As medical students continue their collective leave of absence in protest against the 'increase in medical school quotas,' universities have submitted academic operation plans to the Ministry of Education that include requests for adjustments to the national licensing exam schedule and temporary non-application of failure criteria.

According to the 'Medical School Academic Operation Measures' disclosed by the Ministry of Education on the 14th, some universities have requested postponement of the national licensing exam schedule to secure class and preparation periods before the exam for students returning to classes. Fourth-year medical students graduating from medical schools typically take the practical exam in September to October, followed by the written exam in January of the following year. This is because the period to take the exam after completing clinical practice has become tight. Requests have been received to adjust this schedule or to change the order to written exam → practical exam.

As of the 10th, 37 out of 40 medical schools nationwide have submitted measures to prevent failure. In response, the Ministry of Education stated that it would discuss failure prevention measures, including postponement of the national licensing exam.

On the 9th, Oh Seok-hwan, Vice Minister of Education, attended an emergency briefing on the operation and resumption of classes at 40 medical schools nationwide in April at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and answered reporters' questions. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Currently, universities are independently implementing flexible academic operation plans. Many universities are applying a method of conducting face-to-face and remote classes simultaneously. Plans to adjust class schedules within the semester using intensive course completion systems and flexible semester systems have also been submitted.

Proposals include establishing special regulations to temporarily suspend failure criteria in the first semester and providing opportunities to complete courses with failing grades (F) within the second semester. Some universities are also considering transitioning curriculum operation from semester-based to year-based.

Measures to protect the class rights of first-year premedical students are also included. Plans to prevent disadvantages such as course withdrawal or cancellation, and to establish reinforcement plans such as increasing the maximum credits for seasonal semesters and opening additional lectures upon student return have been proposed.

Regarding clinical practice, changes to the curriculum, adjustments to practice schedules, and intensive operation methods utilizing weekends are under review. To prevent coercion into collective actions, students will be guided through interviews and student council meetings, and reporting and counseling channels will be established within universities.

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