Confirmed Students Allowed to Take Final Exams... Staggered Arrival/Departure and Separate Exam Rooms Provided

Isolation obligation maintained, exceptions allowed only during final exams
If absent, marked as attendance-recognized absence with credited points
Submit attendance method and return home immediately after school
If unable to attend on day 2 due to symptom worsening, submit supporting documents
All school members recommended to wear KF94 masks during final exam period

On the 24th, when the 2022 academic year March nationwide joint academic assessment was conducted for 950,000 high school students from grades 1 to 3 across the country, three students at Yongsan High School in Seoul were preparing for the exam. This academic assessment is being held simultaneously nationwide on the same day for the first time in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Although the mandatory isolation for COVID-19 confirmed cases will be maintained until June 20, students who are confirmed positive or have suspected symptoms during the final exam period are allowed to attend school and take the exams.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Education announced, in consultation with quarantine authorities, that from June, students under self-quarantine for the purpose of taking middle and high school final exams will be permitted to go out. In principle, students who are confirmed positive or have suspected symptoms are prohibited from attending school, but special measures have been put in place to allow them to take exams.

Schools must operate separate exam rooms for confirmed students to take their exams. If operating separate exam rooms is difficult, schools may flexibly manage the exams while maintaining sufficient distance between examinees according to their circumstances. The distance between examinees in the exam room must be at least 1.5 meters, or at least 1 meter if partitions are installed. During the final exam period, everyone on school premises must wear KF94 masks at all times.

Confirmed students must stagger their arrival and departure times from other students. They must wear KF94 masks at all times, avoid using public transportation, and submit their commuting methods to the school. After school, they must return home immediately, and entering libraries, academies, or other facilities may be considered a violation of quarantine obligations and subject to penalties. Students should prepare their own drinking water and consumables, and if lunch is provided during the exam, they must eat at their own seat in the exam room.

If a student misses an exam due to COVID-19 infection, it will be treated as an excused absence with full credit (100%) granted, as before. If a student takes the exam but misses the next day due to worsening symptoms, a medical certificate or opinion issued by a medical institution proving symptom aggravation must be attached. In principle, selective attendance for only some subjects on a single exam day is restricted.

An official from the Ministry of Education explained, "To restrict selective attendance, 100% credit will not be granted without medical proof. If a student misses the exam without submitting proof, 80% credit equivalent to a sick absence will be applied, and if they miss without any notice, it will be treated as an unexcused absence."

The quarantine authorities and Ministry of Education have mandated separate exam rooms for confirmed students and those with suspected symptoms. However, students with suspected symptoms who test negative on self-diagnosis tests may take exams in regular exam rooms. Exam rooms and restrooms should be located in separate buildings, and designated restroom stalls may be operated. It is recommended to extend break times to avoid overlapping movement paths.

Proctors must wear KF94 masks, gloves, and face shields at all times. Ventilation should be done during breaks, and daily disinfection must be conducted throughout the exam period. Answer sheets from confirmed students taken in separate exam rooms should be placed in collection plastic bags, sealed by the proctor, wiped with disinfectant wipes, and then transported. It is recommended that grading of these answer sheets be done 24 hours after collection.

Education offices will monitor confirmed student cases starting two weeks before the final exams, and schools must establish detailed operation plans including infectious disease education, proctor assignments, and operation of separate exam rooms. From one week before the exams, schools must confirm the list of students taking exams in separate rooms, their commuting methods, and emergency contact information.

Nationwide middle and high school final exams will be held from early June to early July. Most high schools will hold exams from June 27 to July 1 (71.5%) and July 4 to 8 (21.13%), while most middle schools will hold exams from July 4 to 8 (48.27%) and June 27 to July 1 (45.06%).

Meanwhile, the policy to lift the mask-wearing mandate during experiential learning and school trips starting May 23 will be implemented as previously announced.

Jang Sang-yoon, Vice Minister of Education, stated, "Thorough preparation is necessary to ensure that final exams can be conducted safely in all schools without concerns about infectious diseases, and the Ministry of Education will cooperate with metropolitan and provincial education offices to do its best to support schools."