Ministry of Education: "In-person classes in the first week of March to maintain current social distancing level"

Request to Operate School Academics According to Current Social Distancing Level
Classroom Density Allowed Up to 2/3 Based on Level 2 Standards

On the 19th, when social distancing was adjusted to Level 1, children were attending school at Munbaek Elementary School in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, as in-person classes for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide were expanded. According to the education sector, from this day forward, the number of students attending school in all regions nationwide was increased to two-thirds capacity. Schools in the metropolitan area, overcrowded schools, and classes must comply with this standard, but non-metropolitan areas are allowed to adjust density according to their circumstances, making full in-person attendance possible for all students every day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] In-person classes during the first week of school in March will be conducted according to the current social distancing levels.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Education informed schools at all levels through metropolitan and provincial offices of education to operate the academic schedule planned according to the current distancing levels and classroom density standards during the first week of March.

Schools are preparing academic schedules, curricula, meals, and childcare in accordance with the "2021 Academic Year Academic and Curriculum Operation Support Plan" jointly announced by the Ministry of Education and the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education on the 28th of last month, as well as the current social distancing levels.

Since health authorities are currently discussing revisions to the social distancing levels, this policy was communicated to prevent confusion among schools and parents. The health authorities have announced that the current distancing standards will be applied until the 28th of this month.

The Ministry of Education, in consultation with health authorities, decided to operate the first week of school according to the academic schedule currently planned by schools.

The current classroom density standards are: up to two-thirds capacity for levels 1 and 1.5, one-third to two-thirds (two-thirds for high schools) for level 2, one-third for level 2.5, and fully remote classes for level 3.

The Ministry of Education stated, "In preparation for expanded in-person attendance, we request metropolitan and provincial offices of education and schools to thoroughly check the preparations for school reopening, including strict quarantine measures, and plan to actively support safe school openings."