[Report] First Day of Full In-Person Classes, Masks Worn Even with PE Uniforms "It's Hard to Breathe When Going to School"

Full Return to School from the 2nd, Mandatory Mask Wearing During PE and Outdoor Activities Lifted
Most Students Wear Masks on the Way to School: "Still Risky"
Many Students Want School Trips, Schools Also Discuss Plans

On the morning of the 2nd, when the school's return to normalcy, which had been slower compared to general society, began, students were attending classes at Seongseo Middle School in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
May 2, 2022. Photo by Joint Press Corps

"I am happy to be able to come to school every day." (Moon Ji-seong, Seongseo Middle School, 1st grade)

"I hope we can take off our masks soon. Wearing masks during school or PE classes makes it hard to breathe and feels stuffy." (Song I-re, Seongseo Middle School, 3rd grade)

"We haven't been able to do experiential learning for 2 to 3 years, so this month I plan to take students to nearby parks or museums." (Kang So-young, Seongseo Middle School teacher)

Starting from the 2nd, with the outdoor mask mandate lifted, full in-person attendance began at schools nationwide. Most students were still wearing masks, but they expressed excitement about the resumption of school trips and experiential learning.

On that day, 8 out of 10 students entering the gate of Seongseo Middle School in Mapo-gu, Seoul, were dressed in PE uniforms. Considering the difficulty of changing into PE uniforms in classrooms due to COVID-19, students were allowed to attend school wearing their PE uniforms. When doing PE classes or activities in class groups, students can participate without wearing masks. Students walking uphill to school while chatting with friends did not remove their masks despite being out of breath. Lee Ha-jun, a 1st grader, said, "My parents still tell me to always wear a mask. Although I have been vaccinated, I think it is still risky."

Most schools, including Seongseo Middle School, require students to wear masks during PE classes for the time being. Teacher Kang So-young said, "Since early this year, we have required masks during PE classes, and we plan to maintain the rule of wearing masks when more than 50 people gather for activities for the time being," adding, "This is because sometimes 2 to 3 classes have lessons together."

From this month, school trips and overnight experiential activities are also allowed. After deliberation by the school operation committee and parental consent, the education office and schools can decide whether to proceed. Teacher Kang said, "School retreats and trips are usually planned and booked a year in advance, but since the students want to go, teachers are discussing how to proceed," adding, "Teachers also feel regretful about not being able to do outdoor activities for the past 2-3 years." Song I-re, a 3rd grader, said, "Since coming to middle school, I have hardly been able to participate in external activities like experiential learning, so I really want to go this year," and added, "I am jealous that my older brother went on a school trip to Busan, so if I get the chance, I want to go to Busan."

On the 2nd, students of Gwangjang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, are attending school as normal attendance is resumed at all schools nationwide. 2022.05.02 Photo by Joint Press Corps

In kindergartens, masks can be removed during outdoor play or physical activities. However, among parents, there is a mix of anticipation and anxiety. A woman in her 40s with a child in kindergarten said, "Children are often close together even on daycare playgrounds or during outdoor activities, so seeing the notice that masks will not be required outdoors worries me," adding, "It is more unsettling because it is not clear in which situations masks should be worn or not." Some parents hope that children, who have become accustomed to masks over the years, can freely engage in activities. Another kindergarten parent said, "Seeing my child happily looking at friends' faces on the playground makes my heart ache."

The Ministry of Education plans to lift the mask-wearing mandate during experiential learning and school trips starting from the 23rd. School principals can recommend mask-wearing outdoors if they judge that the risk of infection is high during experiential learning or school trips, reflecting the opinions of school members.

However, confusion is expected at schools regarding mask-wearing standards. Since mask-wearing rules for outdoor activities such as sports events with more than 50 people or outdoor activities on the playground outside of PE class time are left to the discretion of each school, there may be inconsistencies.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "The Ministry did not lift the mandate all at once, considering the characteristics of school classes, and indoor mask-wearing requirements remain the same," adding, "For example, playing soccer during lunch break is exempt from the mask mandate, but if a distance of more than 1 meter is not maintained, principals can apply detailed guidelines at their discretion."