Ministry of Education to Announce Second Semester Academic Operation Plan on the 9th... Attention on Full Return to School

Eun-Hye Yoo, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is briefing on April 4th afternoon at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City regarding measures to improve the operation of elementary school after-school care classrooms.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The plan for academic operations in the second semester, including whether to have full in-person attendance, is expected to be announced next week.

The Ministry of Education stated on the 4th, "After comprehensively reviewing the academic operation plan for the second semester, we plan to announce it on the 9th."

Earlier, the Ministry of Education announced that full in-person attendance would be implemented up to social distancing level 2 starting from the beginning of the second semester in June. However, as the fourth wave of COVID-19 continues, and many schools that entered summer vacation are reopening in the third and fourth weeks of this month, the possibility of maintaining social distancing level 4 in many areas including the Seoul metropolitan area has increased, making the decision on full in-person attendance uncertain.

Under the current social distancing levels, full in-person attendance is allowed nationwide up to level 2, where daily confirmed cases are below 1,000. However, at level 3, with daily confirmed cases between 1,000 and 2,000, elementary grades 3 to 6 must maintain a density of up to three-quarters, middle schools must maintain between one-third to two-thirds, and high schools must maintain about two-thirds density. At level 4, with daily confirmed cases exceeding 2,000 nationwide, full remote classes must be implemented.