At around 10 a.m. on the 2nd, examinees at Sangmu High School in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, received their admission tickets and were given instructions for examinees.
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] “Please maintain distance and refrain from conversation.”
On the morning of the 2nd, the preliminary gathering day for the 2021 College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the gate of Sangmu High School in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City resembled a COVID-19 ‘checkpoint.’
The principal and about 4 to 5 teachers were fully engaged in their daily quarantine roles, reminding examinees passing through the gate with phrases like “Do not take off your mask” and “Keep social distancing.”
The examinees responded accordingly, moving while maintaining a certain distance.
Inside the school, students and teachers cooperated smoothly, and quarantine rules were relatively well observed.
Distance guidance stickers spaced 1.5 meters apart led examinees to the auditorium where exam admission tickets were distributed. It was hard to find any signs of mischief or clustering.
The thermal imaging camera installed at the school entrance allowed for quick temperature checks, so the waiting line was not long. After having their temperature taken and wearing masks, examinees immediately moved to the auditorium under the supervision of the assigned teacher.
The entire process until the examinees received their admission tickets on that day operated organically.
The examinees also showed cooperative attitudes. Even during the brief wait to receive their admission tickets, only silence prevailed. Perhaps due to the cold weather, many students were seen stamping their feet or rubbing their hands.
At the final checkpoint to receive the admission ticket, the auditorium entrance, quarantine rules had to be followed as well.
At a teacher’s instruction, “Please wear these over your shoes,” examinees simultaneously covered their shoes with overshoes and proceeded into the auditorium. Inside, admission tickets were distributed and important notices were given to examinees maintaining social distancing.
The student council, composed of first and second-year students from Sangmu High School, is cheering on the examinees who completed the preliminary assembly around 10 a.m. on the 2nd.
At the auditorium exit, the long-standing traditional ‘CSAT cheering event’ at Sangmu High School took place.
First and second-year students from the Sangmu High School Student Council gave examinees water bottles and chocolates, shouting, “Fighting, seniors! Wishing you great success on the CSAT!”
Seeing the hand-held cheering signs prepared by juniors with messages like “Unravel it smoothly like tissue paper” and “We prepared a golden axe for you. Aim well,” smiles blossomed on the faces of the examinees.
One examinee said, “The weather is cold and I’m very nervous the day before the exam, but the warm support from juniors and teachers gives me strength and I’m grateful.”
Park Seung-jin, president of the Sangmu High School Student Council (2nd year), said, “This unprecedented COVID-19 CSAT must be making the seniors anxious. However, I believe they will overcome it well, and I hope our support helps them achieve good results.”
Meanwhile, in Gwangju, about 16,000 examinees will take the CSAT on the 3rd at 41 test sites and 898 exam rooms. There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases among the examinees, and two are under self-quarantine.
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