Comprehensive Survey on China Visit History for Foreign Students in Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

Ministry of Education: 14-Day School Attendance Ban After Returning from China

On the 4th, passengers arriving on flights from China are entering through a dedicated immigration area at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, wearing masks. / Yeongjongdo = Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of Education has decided to verify the China travel history and entry status of foreign-nationality students attending elementary, middle, and high schools in South Korea to strengthen COVID-19 prevention measures.

According to the education sector on the 21st, the Ministry of Education sent an official letter to all metropolitan and provincial offices of education the day before, requesting them to "prepare a monitoring status report on foreign-nationality students as of the 20th and submit it to the Ministry of Education by the 21st." The investigation includes not only foreign students currently enrolled in schools but also those who have applied for new or transfer admissions and are awaiting enrollment.

The Ministry instructed each metropolitan and provincial office of education to ascertain whether these foreign students have recently visited China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and if they are currently abroad in their home countries or elsewhere, when they plan to enter South Korea.

They also provided guidelines on 'Protection Measures and Management Plans for Foreign-nationality Students.' Foreign students, like domestic students, are subject to a 14-day suspension from attending school if they enter from China. During the suspension period, they should refrain from going out or contacting others.

Schools must check the health status of these students twice daily through the person in charge. Students entering from China must be informed in advance that they will be subject to suspension from attending school.

The Ministry of Education also reiterated the previously notified guideline stating, "If students entering from China constitute more than 30% of the total enrolled students, the academic schedule may be adjusted."

This means that if students who recently visited China exceed 30% of the enrolled students, and there is a need to postpone the start of the semester for COVID-19 prevention, the school principal may decide to delay the semester at their discretion. However, this must be done in consultation with education and quarantine authorities.

Academic schedules may also be adjusted in regions where confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred, areas located along the routes of confirmed patients where spread is a concern, or regions with second- or third-generation infections or active monitoring subjects.

In the case of the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, it was the first in the nation to postpone the start of the semester by one week for all kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in the Daegu area.