University Presidents' Demands Accepted, Guidelines Established
Curriculum and Evaluation Criteria Expanded by End of Academic Year
Special Measures Reflecting Non-Application of Failing Grade Standards
Reduced Class Days Operation, Utilization of Prepaid Tuition Fees
The Ministry of Education has established academic operation guidelines applicable to medical schools to prevent medical students from repeating a year. The grading evaluation criteria have been shifted from the end of the semester to the end of the academic year, and a 'temporary special measure' has been introduced to exempt medical students from repeating a year only for this year.
On the 10th, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, held a press conference at the Government Seoul Office and announced the 'Flexible Academic Operation Guidelines for Medical Schools.' Previously, last month, the 'Council of University Presidents for the Normalization of Medical Schools (UCPNMS),' composed of university presidents, urged the Ministry of Education to prepare measures to prevent students from repeating a year.
Ministry of Education: "We have lifted all administrative regulations and guidelines"
Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is announcing the flexible operation guidelines for medical school academics on the 10th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@
The guidelines incorporate many of the measures included in the academic operation plans submitted by universities to the Ministry of Education in May. First, the Ministry has allowed the establishment of temporary special measures so that the repetition criteria may not apply to medical students this year. Methods such as granting opportunities for retaking courses until the end of the academic year with comprehensive evaluation, and the application of the 'I grade system,' which allows incomplete grades to be supplemented within a deadline, can also be applied.
For first-year pre-medical students, the promotion requirements can be changed so that returning students advance to the medical program without repeating a year. Additionally, plans will be prepared to prioritize the protection of the learning rights of freshmen entering in the 2025 academic year by granting priority in course registration.
Furthermore, the curriculum and grading evaluation for the first semester of this year can be operated on an academic year basis rather than a semester basis. If students fail to complete courses they are enrolled in, they can cancel or withdraw their initial course registration and retake the courses. The operation of the first semester can be autonomously applied in various ways depending on each university's circumstances, such as running it concurrently with the second semester, extending the first semester while shortening the second semester, or operating a total of three semesters.
The number of class days per subject can be reduced by up to two weeks from the usual '30 weeks or more' per academic year. If necessary, night classes, remote classes, weekend classes, and seasonal semesters can be utilized. Due to semester adjustments, measures such as the 'intensive completion system,' which operates shorter than the existing class period, and curriculum adjustments can be applied.
For fourth-year medical students, practical classes will be supplemented in the second semester of this year, and some practical courses that are difficult to supplement will be made up through next year's seasonal semesters. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are considering conducting an additional medical licensing examination in 2025 to encourage the return of fourth-year medical students.
If the first semester is extended or supplemented this year, tuition fees paid for the first semester can be used. Measures will be taken to allow applications for national scholarships based on the new semester criteria. Although the first application is the principle for enrolled students, the possibility of extending the application period to allow applications during the second application period is also being reviewed. Depending on the university's semester start date, priority support for general repayment student loans will also be provided.
To alleviate the academic burden on returning students, management plans such as providing learning materials, monitoring learning, counseling, and guidance will also be prepared.
'Can we bring back the medical students who 'left home'?
However, some critics point out that the guidelines do not include direct measures to encourage medical students who have not returned to classes. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Lee said, "Now is the time to truly return. The government is making every effort possible, and since many demands have been accepted, I believe residents and students should come back," adding, "The government will do its best." Regarding communication with medical students, he said, "We are communicating and will open the doors even wider."
Regarding the additional medical licensing exam, Choi Eun-hee, Director of Talent Policy at the Ministry of Education, explained, "Regarding the postponement of the licensing exam, (the Ministry of Health and Welfare) stated that postponement is difficult because it would harm students who have already been attending classes," and added, "They are currently actively considering holding an additional exam. Once finalized, guidance will be provided on-site promptly."
On concerns about fairness with other universities and majors, Director Choi explained, "There is a public interest aspect aimed at maintaining the smooth supply and stability of medical personnel to protect public health." Regarding concerns that the increase in students who must retake first-year courses due to missing classes this year might harm next year's freshmen, she said, "We will try, but disadvantages and inconveniences may occur," and added, "Schools and the government will strive to protect the learning rights of freshmen."
When asked whether the five-week supplementary practical training would be sufficient to fulfill the 19-week practical training period for the first semester, she explained, "As of now, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education's position is that if students return and complete the practical training within an appropriate period, there will be no inconvenience in taking the licensing exam."
Director Choi emphasized regarding the guidelines, "We reviewed everything by lifting the administrative regulations and guidelines that the Ministry of Education previously had," and added, "If students just come back, we have prepared everything comprehensively so that they can return without worrying about tuition, scholarships, or student loans."
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