"Overcrowded Classes but Full Attendance, Utilizing Home Study"

From Today, Grades 3-6 Elementary Attend 3/4 Days, Middle and High School 2/3 Days
Parents Anxious as School Schedules Force Attendance
"Only 2 Weeks Left of Vacation, Unsure If We Should Keep Sending Kids"

As the government decided to strengthen social distancing measures again, students are attending school near an elementary school in Seoul on the 17th, the day it was announced that from the 20th, all schools in the metropolitan area and large schools and overcrowded classes in non-metropolitan areas will suspend full in-person attendance. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

From the 20th, all grades except for 1st and 2nd graders in elementary school will attend school with restrictions based on school density criteria. As winter vacation approaches, some schools continue full attendance, causing anxious parents to opt for home study.

The Ministry of Education adjusted the school density criteria starting today, allowing 3rd to 6th graders in elementary school to attend up to 3/4 capacity, and middle and high school students up to 2/3 capacity. This applies to all schools in the metropolitan area and to oversized and overcrowded schools in non-metropolitan areas. Students who receive school-based vaccinations will be excluded from the density calculation when attending school.

Due to the approaching vacation and difficulties in the academic schedule, some schools are conducting full attendance. While additional adjustments to school density can be made in consultation with the education office, most schools are applying only the minimum density standards. A middle school parent living in Seoul said, "Even though it is an overcrowded school, we were instructed by the principal to continue attendance as usual since vacation is near, so we ended up extending home study."

As student COVID-19 cases surge again, most parents are either not allowing their children to eat school meals or are sending them to school with anxiety. A parent of an elementary school student in their 30s said, "I don't see the point of having online classes just one day a week." Another parent of a 2nd-grade elementary student expressed, "With only two weeks left until vacation and testing being difficult, I am worried whether it is safe to send my child to school every day."

The four weeks of full attendance were halted by emergency-level social distancing measures, but during that time, the proportion of confirmed student cases increased significantly. According to the Ministry of Education, the average daily number of confirmed student cases over the recent four weeks from November 18 to December 15 was 456.6 → 563.6 → 800.7 → 869.0. The daily average nearly doubled from 457 to 869. In particular, confirmed cases among elementary students rose from an average of 229.6 per day four weeks ago to 502.7.

The Ministry of Education started a ‘visiting vaccination’ program on the 15th and is operating a focused vaccination support period until the 24th. As of midnight on the 20th, the vaccination rate for children and adolescents is 43.8%, with a first-dose completion rate of 61.0%.

Nationwide elementary, middle, and high schools will begin winter vacation as early as the 20th. From the 27th, 42.2% of elementary, 45.7% of middle, and 37.9% of high schools will be on vacation. Schools starting vacation after January 3 account for 26.7% of elementary, 40.9% of middle, and 27.2% of high schools.