Yoo Eun-hye: "Principle of Normal School Attendance for New Semester... Flexible Response by Region and School"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye announced on the 4th that while adhering to the principle of normal school attendance for the new semester, flexible responses will be possible by region and school.

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo made these remarks during the "National Video Conference with Provincial and City Superintendents of Education for Consultation on First Semester Academic Operations" held that morning regarding the academic operation plan for the new semester.

In this meeting, attendance criteria considering the conditions and characteristics of each school and region were discussed. Yoo emphasized, "Measures to enhance alternative learning and remote classes are among the top demands from students and parents," adding, "In a situation where a large number of confirmed cases and quarantined individuals are expected to occur, the operation plan for classes to minimize learning loss and guarantee the right to learn will be the core of academic operations for the new semester."

The Ministry of Education is reviewing a plan to introduce rapid antigen tests to strengthen the school quarantine system for the new semester and to urgently provide rapid antigen test kits to schools returning to attendance in February after the winter vacation. Based on consultations with provincial and city superintendents of education, the Ministry plans to finalize and announce the academic operation and school quarantine management plans for the new semester next week.

According to health authorities, as of midnight on the day, 15.9% of new COVID-19 confirmed cases were aged 10?19, and 10.5% were aged 0?9. Vaccination rates for high school students aged 16?18 for the new semester were 89.1% for the first dose and 85.4% for the second dose, while middle school students aged 13?15 had rates of 72.9% for the first dose and 65.6% for the second dose.