All Schools in Jeonnam to Implement Full Attendance Starting from the 7th

Joint Briefing by Superintendent Jang Seok-woong and Governor Kim Young-rok on 'Implementation of Curriculum Normalization'

Jeong Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education of Jeollanam-do, and Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, held a joint briefing at the Jeollanam-do Provincial Office on the morning of the 3rd and announced, "From the 7th, full in-person classes will be implemented at all schools in Jeollanam-do." Photo by Jeollanam-do Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] All schools in Jeonnam Province will conduct full in-person classes starting next week.

Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Jang Seok-woong and Governor Kim Young-rok held a joint briefing at Jeonnam Provincial Office on the morning of the 3rd and announced, "Starting from the 7th, all schools in Jeonnam Province will implement full in-person classes."

Accordingly, 203,000 students across all 822 elementary, middle, and high schools in Jeonnam will attend full in-person classes from next week. This marks the first time in 15 months since schools closed on March 1 last year due to COVID-19, after which remote learning and partial in-person classes were repeatedly implemented.

Currently, 88% (725 schools) of all schools in Jeonnam are conducting in-person classes, but the Provincial Office of Education plans to implement full in-person classes at the remaining schools (97 schools) through thorough quarantine measures and flexible academic management.

Superintendent Jang cited as evidence that the COVID-19 confirmed case rate per 100,000 population in Jeonnam is 0.064%, the lowest nationwide, and the confirmed case rate among all students and staff in Jeonnam is also the lowest nationwide at 0.02%. Additionally, Jeonnam was the first in the country to exceed a 20% vaccination rate.

Superintendent Jang said, "Although vigilance should not be relaxed yet, after determining that situation management is possible while operating academic affairs normally, we decided on full in-person classes for all schools in Jeonnam through consultations with health authorities and local governments."

He added, "Expanding in-person classes is a global trend to address learning loss and emotional issues, and it is the first step toward educational recovery and restoring normal school life. Schools will thoroughly prepare for full in-person classes by ensuring strict quarantine and creating a safe meal environment."

Governor Kim Young-rok also stated, "Jeonnam's COVID-19 situation has stabilized compared to other regions," and expressed strong support, saying, "We welcome and will actively support the full in-person classes for all schools starting from the 7th, as implemented by the Provincial Office of Education."

He continued, "Believing that Jeonnam's future depends on nurturing talent, we will strengthen quarantine measures to ensure all students can continue learning safely and healthily," and urged, "We hope residents will unite to make the full in-person classes in all schools a precious starting point for restoring daily life."

Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has secured a budget of 1.9 billion KRW to prepare for the expansion of full in-person classes by distributing additional quarantine supplies such as medical masks and plans to continuously utilize 3,300 school quarantine volunteers in the second semester, following 2,203 volunteers in the first semester.

If a COVID-19 case occurs among students or staff, classes will switch to remote learning for 2 to 3 days, and based on epidemiological investigation results by health authorities, decisions on continuing remote learning or returning to in-person classes will be made in consultation with the Education Support Office and the Provincial Office of Education.

In particular, if close contacts with confirmed cases occur among students or staff, remote learning will be allowed until diagnostic test results are notified. In emergency situations where many confirmed cases and close contacts occur in city or county areas, the Provincial Office of Education will decide on switching academic operation methods through prior consultation with city/county health centers and others.