Busan Office of Education Allows COVID-19 Confirmed and Self-Quarantined Individuals to Take This Year's First Qualification Exam if Desired

April 10, 1st Elementary, Middle, and High School Equivalency Exams Held Simultaneously at 12 Test Centers

COVID-19 Positive Cases and Self-Quarantined Individuals to Take Exams at Separate Centers

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] On the 10th, the first qualification exam of the year in the Busan area will be held simultaneously at 12 test centers in the city.

Separate test centers will be provided for COVID-19 self-quarantined individuals and confirmed cases who wish to take the exam.

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 8th that the first qualification exam for elementary, middle, and high school graduation of this year will be conducted from 9 a.m. on April 10 at 12 test centers including Yurak Girls' Middle School in Dongnae-gu.

A total of 1,906 candidates applied for this exam, including 150 for elementary school level, 339 for middle school level, and 1,417 for high school level.

The elementary school qualification exam will be held at Yurak Girls' Middle School, and the middle school qualification exam will be held at Mora Middle School.

The high school qualification exam will be conducted at Yurak Girls' Middle School (Test Center 1), Namil Middle School (Test Center 2), Choeup Middle School (Test Center 3), Yongho Middle School (Test Center 4), Hadan Middle School (Test Center 5), and Centum Middle School (Test Center 6).

Test centers will also be set up at Busan Prison and Busan Juvenile Detention Center.

For self-quarantined candidates who wish to take the exam, a separate test center will be operated at Busan Education and Training Institute, and for confirmed cases who wish to take the exam, separate test centers will be operated at Busan Medical Center and the Residential Treatment Center (Busan Human Resources Development Institute).

Examinees must bring their admission ticket, ID card, black water-based pen for computer use (black ballpoint pen for elementary level), mask (including spare masks in case of damage), lunch box, and drinking water.

Examinees who have lost their admission ticket can receive a temporary admission ticket at the designated place prepared at each test center headquarters by presenting their ID card and one photo identical to the one on the application form by 8:10 a.m. on the exam day.

The exam will be conducted strictly following the Central Disease Control Headquarters' exam quarantine management guidelines to prevent COVID-19.

All examinees must wear masks from entry to exit, and those not wearing masks will not be allowed to take the exam.

Also, since entering the exam room may take some time due to temperature checks and other procedures, examinees are expected to enter by 8:20 a.m. Access to the test centers will be strictly controlled for anyone other than examinees.

The Office of Education will unify the entrance to the test centers and conduct hand sanitization and temperature checks for all examinees.

If an examinee has a high fever (37.5°C or higher) or respiratory symptoms, they must take the exam in a separate room after filling out and signing a health questionnaire according to their wishes, and after the exam, they must get tested at a screening clinic following the health center's guidelines.

Detailed information can be found on the Office of Education's website, and the successful candidates will be announced on May 11 at 10 a.m. on the website.

Certificates of passing will be issued at the Office of Education's Customer Support Office. Those who have difficulty visiting during the issuance period can apply by filling out a civil mail application form at the post office and receive the certificate by mail.

An official from the Office of Education said, "We have disinfected all test centers before and after the exam and stocked necessary preventive supplies. We will thoroughly operate the quarantine system to ensure the exam is conducted safely."