COVID-19 Peak Expected Around School Opening
Normal Attendance Promoted to Ensure Learning Rights
Second Semester Academic Operation Plan to Be Announced in Early August
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae is visiting an academy in Sejong City on the 25th to inspect quarantine measures and listen to concerns.
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education has decided to promote normal school attendance in the second semester even if the COVID-19 outbreak spreads.
On the 25th, Park Soon-ae, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, held a meeting with vice superintendents of education from cities and provinces to discuss the basic direction of 'second semester quarantine and academic operation plans.'
Minister Park said, "Under a thorough quarantine system, we plan to implement 'normal school attendance' in the second semester as well to fully maintain students' educational activities."
She urged, "Please strengthen quarantine measures not only during the vacation but also before and after the start of the semester, and make every effort to guarantee learning rights and prevent learning loss."
Recently, as the COVID-19 variant virus spread, the number of new daily confirmed cases reached the 70,000 range, and in the third week of July, the proportion of those aged 18 or younger among all confirmed cases exceeded 25%.
The quarantine authorities predicted that the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak would be around mid-August, when the second semester begins, but the Ministry of Education's policy is to promote normal school attendance in the second semester as well.
Minister Park explained, "There were many concerns and worries due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the first semester as well. We have experience and strength in supporting students to continue learning without interruption in a safe educational environment based on a thorough quarantine system."
The Ministry of Education will announce the academic operation plan for the second semester early next month. Most schools will start the second semester from August 16.
On this day, the Ministry of Education shared the COVID-19 infection status and outbreak forecast of students in kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools over the past four weeks with the city and provincial offices of education. They discussed major quarantine management matters by timing and field and academic operation plans for second semester in-person classes.
Minister Park urged, “Please thoroughly guide students to spend their summer vacation safely and also put effort into quarantine management at private academies.”
On the same day, Minister Park visited art and music academies located in Dajeong-dong, Sejong City, to check the quarantine situation.
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