Kim Bu-gyeom "Goal of Full Return to School in Second Semester... Will Strive to Recover Educational Gaps"

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated on his Facebook on the 15th, "(Today is) the second Teachers' Day during the COVID-19 situation," and added, "From the second semester this year, we aim for full in-person attendance."

On this day, Prime Minister Kim began his post by saying, "Last year, for the first time in over 70 years of educational history, we had online school openings." He expressed gratitude and respect to teachers nationwide, saying, "Now, more than a year later, teachers' relentless efforts to manage both academics and quarantine measures are still ongoing." He added, "Teachers work day and night creating content for online classes, and on days when students attend school, they are responsible for school quarantine and student guidance. The tireless efforts of teachers striving to continue education are truly moving."

He also said, "(After COVID-19) the scenes of Teachers' Day have changed, but the hearts thinking of each other remain the same," and expressed hope, "I earnestly wish for the day when smiles bloom brightly on the faces of children and teachers. The government will watch over and work harder."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum expressed his gratitude to teachers nationwide through his Facebook on the 15th in celebration of Teachers' Day and set the goal of full in-person attendance for the second semester.
[Photo by Facebook]

Meanwhile, he emphasized, "Students frustrated by not being able to attend school and parents anxious about not being able to send their children to school are also going through difficult times together," and stressed, "Even though it is tough, education must continue."

He expressed concern about students' learning loss, academic gaps, and socio-emotional deficiencies caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Kim stated, "Last year, we focused on reducing infection risks through remote classes and quarantine measures, but from the second semester this year, we will devote all efforts to recovering the educational gap with full in-person attendance as the goal."

He promised, "To achieve this, the safe attendance of teachers and students must be guaranteed," and added, "We will strive to ensure that teachers of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as high school seniors preparing for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), complete their COVID-19 vaccinations by August, when summer vacation ends."

On the other hand, on the 12th, the Ministry of Education also announced plans to promote full in-person attendance for all grades in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools starting from the second semester.

A Ministry of Education official said on the same day, "Once the revised social distancing plan for COVID-19 response is prepared in July, it will be applied from the second semester, and in connection with this plan, we intend to promote full in-person attendance as much as possible from the second semester." The official added, "With the direction of full in-person attendance in the second semester, we will discuss how to specifically apply the revised social distancing plan and supplement quarantine measures."

As the quarantine authorities decided to apply the revised and supplemented social distancing system from July, the Ministry of Education plans to revise its academic operation guidelines accordingly and apply them from the second semester (September), when in-person attendance will newly begin.