Reducing Legal School Days to Ease Academic Schedule Burden
School Opening May Be Accelerated Depending on Infection Spread
Loan Products for Self-Employed Including Academies to Launch Late March
"Measures Will Be Taken if Closure Rate Drops"
Daycare Centers Also Extend Closure Period Until April 5
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye announced on the 17th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the plan to postpone the third reopening of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide. The government announced that the reopening of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide will be postponed for an additional two weeks, from the 23rd of this month to the 6th of next month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The opening of all kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special schools nationwide has been further postponed. This decision was made in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) to minimize concerns about community transmission and to prepare for a stable school opening within a controlled scope.
On the 17th, the Ministry of Education announced at the Government Seoul Office that the start of the 2020 academic year would be postponed from March 23 to April 6.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "With the new semester delayed by a total of five weeks, the Ministry of Education will reduce the legal number of school days and allow a reduction in class hours to ease the burden of managing the academic schedule. We will make every effort to establish a universal online learning environment and provide quarantine supplies."
Deputy Prime Minister Yoo added, "Starting today, we will operate a task force led by the Deputy Minister of Education to prepare for the new semester. We will specifically consult with education offices to allocate 253.4 billion KRW from the supplementary budget for local education finance grants to COVID-19 quarantine efforts."
◆Reviewing Postponement of College Entrance Exam Schedule= With the school opening delayed by an additional two weeks, the Ministry of Education has recommended that metropolitan and provincial education offices and schools reduce the number of school days after the fourth week from the legal school days. The legal number of school days is 190 days for elementary, middle, and high schools, and 180 days for kindergartens. Since the number of closure days exceeds 15, school principals may reduce the annual number of school days by up to 10% at their discretion. Correspondingly, a reduction in class hours is also permitted.
Due to the postponement of the school opening, matters related to the college entrance exam schedule are also under review. Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "The exam schedule and the completion date for first semester evaluations can only be set once the school opening and academic schedule begin," adding, "We are reviewing realistic measures regarding the college entrance exam schedule." She further stated, "We will announce the college entrance exam schedule simultaneously with the school opening."
◆Will the School Opening Be Postponed Again After Two Weeks?= The Ministry of Education has postponed the school opening three times after consultations with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. Depending on the progression of the infectious disease, the school opening may be moved earlier or delayed further. If the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases significantly decreases, the school opening could be advanced from April 6; conversely, there is also the possibility of an additional postponement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye entered the briefing room at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 17th to announce the third postponement plan for the nationwide kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school openings. The government announced that the opening of kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide will be postponed for an additional two weeks, from the 23rd of this month to the 6th of next month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
Deputy Prime Minister Yoo explained, "We are preparing with April 6 as the principle date for school opening, but it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the situation considering the spread of infectious diseases and global circumstances. In the worst case, further postponement may be required; otherwise, it could be moved forward slightly."
◆Addressing the Prolonged Learning Gap= As students are unable to attend school, parents' anxiety about infection has eased, but concerns about the prolonged educational gap have emerged. Recently, there have been reports that the rate of academy closures has decreased again.
Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "We met with academy representatives and agreed with financial institutions to launch loan products by the end of March to support various management difficulties. If academy closures are not properly implemented, we will devise countermeasures."
To prevent learning loss, from the fourth week of closure, March 23 onward, online learning programs equivalent to regular classes will be provided. Support will be strengthened for students from information-disadvantaged groups, including providing personal computers and internet communication fees, and the rental of smart devices owned by schools will be promoted.
◆Strengthening School Quarantine to Prepare for School Opening= The Ministry of Education will supplement and distribute school quarantine guidelines to block infections after school opening in consultation with health authorities. These include disinfection of school facilities, stockpiling and use of quarantine supplies, hygiene management of classrooms and facilities, lifestyle rules for students and staff, fever checks, and response manuals for symptomatic individuals.
Additionally, with cooperation from other ministries, stockpiling of health masks for symptomatic individuals and distribution of cloth masks for general students are being pursued.
Measures such as rearranging desks within schools, improving meal environments, separating meal and rest times will not only disperse students but also secure distancing space for staff and provide disinfectants, creating a safe educational environment. Regarding the treatment of non-regular workers in schools, a plan has been set to have them report to work from the 23rd and perform substitute duties.
Meanwhile, daycare centers will also remain closed until April 5. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that the closure period, initially scheduled until March 22, will be extended by two weeks to protect the health of infants and young children. Support for home care will continue accordingly. Families can use family care leave (up to 10 days) and receive support of 50,000 KRW per day for up to five days per person.
Deputy Prime Minister Yoo concluded, "We will meticulously prepare all necessary measures for a normal return to school after reopening," and urged, "Even in this urgent situation, let the government and the people unite to overcome this national crisis."
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