Gwangju Elementary, Middle, and High Schools to 'Combine' Remote and In-Person Classes Until the 15th

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 2nd that it will maintain remote classes for all special, elementary, middle, and high schools until the 3rd due to the spread of COVID-19 community infections.

For elementary and middle schools, about one-third of all students will attend school from the 6th to the 15th, and for high schools, about two-thirds of all students will attend. The remaining students will continue remote classes.

The method of combining in-person and remote classes will be decided through a democratic decision-making process involving each school's members.

For elementary and middle schools where about one-third of all students attend from the 6th to the 15th, the frequency and cycle of in-person classes by grade and class will be autonomously decided by the schools, and elementary after-school care classrooms will continue to operate.

For high schools where about two-thirds of all students attend, third-year students will attend classes daily, while first- and second-year students will attend every other week.

Currently, 9,101 smart devices necessary for remote classes have been secured, and 5,722 have already been lent to students.

Communication fees have been supported for 7,433 people, and the ‘Gwangju Remote Education Emergency Support Call Center’ operates to resolve remote class complaints.

Special schools will have about one-third of all students attending until the 15th.

For kindergartens, about one-third of all enrolled children will attend in coordination with Gwangju city daycare centers, and other children will take remote classes at home.

However, kindergartens with fewer than 10 students are encouraged to hold daily in-person classes, and kindergarten care will be provided as needed.

Administrative measures restricting gatherings are being implemented to recommend refraining from operating facilities in large academies with more than 300 people until the 15th, and academies with fewer than 300 people are also asked to refrain from operating facilities as much as possible.

When operation is unavoidable, all attendees are requested to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks, checking body temperature, keeping attendance logs, maintaining social distancing, and disinfecting.

In particular, the Gwangju Office of Education and local governments plan to conduct joint inspections of all 4,737 academies in Gwangju.

Gwangju city will focus inspections on large academies, and the Office of Education will form inspection teams with 18 teams from the Eastern Education Office and 34 teams from the Western Education Office to check compliance with quarantine rules.

The Office of Education will strengthen inspections of multi-use facilities such as karaoke rooms and PC rooms in cooperation with the city hall and police agency. Additionally, joint efforts with related organizations will enhance life guidance inside and around schools, and a social distancing campaign will be launched.

Superintendent Jang Huiguk said, “To prevent the spread of COVID-19 community infections, I ask all school members to refrain from visiting multi-use facilities such as karaoke rooms and PC rooms, small gatherings, and religious activities for the next two weeks.”