Confusion in Student Community Over Varied School Policies Following Decision to Halt Full In-Person Attendance

Seoul Metropolitan Area and Non-Metropolitan Regions Adjust Overcrowded and Underpopulated Class Density to Two-Thirds Level
Regional and School Discretion... Measures Vary Widely Including Maintaining Full Attendance and Early Vacations
Students Say "Implementing Full Attendance Without Quarantine Measures Is Irresponsible"

As the government decided to reinforce social distancing measures, 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 or overcrowded classes in non-metropolitan areas will halt full in-person attendance. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Following the Ministry of Education's decision to suspend full in-person attendance starting from the 20th, schools have closed their doors about a month after full attendance began on the 22nd of last month. However, due to widely varying policies by region and school, students and parents are experiencing confusion.

As the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) implements the 'Pause on Returning to Normal Life and Strengthened Social Distancing Measures,' the Ministry of Education announced plans to adjust school density to two-thirds capacity for schools in the metropolitan area and overcrowded classes in non-metropolitan areas.

Among these measures, for elementary students, grades 1 and 2 will attend school daily, while grades 3 to 6 will attend on a half-day basis, maintaining an overall density of five-sixths. Students will take remote classes on days they do not attend school. While some argue that attendance should be further reduced in overcrowded classes, dual-income families express concerns about care gaps, resulting in divided opinions.

Due to the government's strengthened social distancing measures, full in-person attendance has been suspended at elementary, middle, and high schools in the Seoul metropolitan area, as well as at oversized and overcrowded schools in non-metropolitan areas. On the morning of the 20th, remote classes for second-year students were being conducted at Jangwi Middle School in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. 2021. 12. 20

With the government allowing decisions based on regional and school discretion, some areas continue to maintain full in-person attendance policies. The Jeonbuk Office of Education stated, "If confirmed cases occur, remote classes will be conducted simultaneously," and announced that all schools in Jeonbuk will maintain full attendance. Conversely, some regions such as Gyeongnam have entered early vacation periods.

Such unpredictable attendance policies have led to ongoing dissatisfaction among parents. Criticisms such as "Was full attendance forced without any quarantine measures?" and "The differing decisions by each school are confusing" have been prevalent.

A parent on a Seoul-area mom caf? posted, "They said full attendance in the metropolitan area would be suspended, but our school notified us that full attendance would be maintained based on survey results," adding, "There was only about half a day to vote. Many parents probably couldn't vote." Another parent commenting on the post expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Our child's school decided to proceed with full attendance without any vote."

The original poster added, "I doubt whether decisions are being made considering density. This decision is incomprehensible with the vacation period so close." The policy to maintain full attendance despite being an overcrowded school is criticized as inconsistent with quarantine conditions.

There were also reactions expressing loss of trust due to the excessively fluctuating policies. A parent from a metropolitan area mom caf? lamented in a post, "I feel uneasy sending my child to school, but I can't help feeling ashamed for the kids," and added, "The measures feel like closing the barn after the horse has bolted every time." Comments agreeing with this post included, "They implemented full attendance under the guise of 'With Corona' at an incomprehensible timing, so this is the expected result," and "Children's safety is at stake, but the 'let's just try it' style policy feels irresponsible."

It is not only parents who are confused by the inconsistent measures. A 26-year-old elementary school teacher named A working in the metropolitan area said, "I have always been skeptical about full attendance," and added, "When full attendance was implemented, the cafeteria became so crowded that even those not infected with COVID-19 were at risk of catching it there." He further expressed frustration, saying, "It is very disappointing that we learned about the recent policy changes through news articles without proper notification to teachers."

Meanwhile, as COVID-19 confirmed cases among students increased after the implementation of full attendance, the education authorities are conducting 'visiting vaccination' programs to administer vaccines at schools. Regarding the introduction of the youth quarantine pass, they have formed a consultative body with academy organizations and held the first meeting on the 20th to discuss improvement measures.