Reviewing Measures to Recognize Remote Classes for Attendance Days and Hours
Preventing Learning Gaps and Expanding On-Offline Hybrid Classes
Utilizing Education Office and School Smart Device Rental Systems
Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Yoo Eun-hye is delivering opening remarks at the COVID-19 response meeting of the ruling party, government, and Blue House held at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Ministry of Education is considering recognizing remote classes as official school days. They are also contemplating a plan to simultaneously implement both in-person and online school openings depending on the infection situation.
On the 25th, the Ministry of Education announced that it will sign an online business agreement with metropolitan and provincial offices of education, the Korea Education and Research Information Service, and the Educational Broadcasting System.
While preparing guidelines for operating remote classes, the Ministry plans to prevent prolonged learning gaps and, in the long term, to expand future-oriented teaching models such as blended online and offline classes.
Currently, education authorities are preparing for the new semester opening on April 6, but they acknowledge the possibility of extended school closures if infections occur among local communities, students, or staff. If the school opening is further delayed, concerns about learning gaps may arise, so they intend to continuously expand educational content such as EBS Online Class to support remote education equivalent to regular classes.
Following this business agreement, the Ministry of Education will collaborate with metropolitan and provincial offices of education to establish a remote learning system capable of online school openings by April 5 (scheduled), when the third school closure is expected to end.
Overseas, many online classes are already underway. In China, 'online home classes' are being conducted in elementary, middle, and high schools. They have launched new cloud network platforms and educational broadcasts to open online classrooms. Students receive education at home including the curriculum, infectious disease education, patriotic education, physical training, and reading education. In Japan, teachers conduct online home learning and even morning assemblies.
In the United States, New York State has issued a school closure order until the 20th of next month, and all students from kindergarten through 12th grade have been participating in online classes since this week. The state authorities have distributed 25,000 iPads and Wi-Fi devices, and all principals and teachers underwent three days of remote teaching training.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye said, "A new form of learning and education is taking place," adding, "We are promoting a plan to recognize remote classes as official school days and hours to reflect changes in the field, and we will promptly announce detailed guidelines for operating remote classes after collecting field opinions."
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