Starting next semester, kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools will be able to return to school even in the second stage of social distancing.
The Ministry of Education announced a new principle of school density in line with the announcement of the social distancing reform plan today (20th).
Earlier, the education authorities announced that they would prepare a new school density standard that would allow full attendance from the second semester by gradually increasing the number of students attending school as a result of a decrease in academic ability due to long-term remote classes due to the corona virus.
First, in the first stage of social distancing where there are no more than 500 new confirmed cases nationwide, kindergartens and elementary, middle and high schools must go to school.
Even if there are more than 500 new confirmed cases but less than 1,000, it is possible to go back to school in Stage 2 of the distancing.
However, the density may be adjusted to 2/3 of the current students in consideration of the regional infectious disease situation and school-specific circumstances such as overcrowded and overcrowded classes.
In the third stage of social distancing, where there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases nationwide, two-thirds of high school students must attend school.
In the third stage of middle school, up to two grades can attend, but only one grade can attend due to the risk of infection, etc.
In an elementary school, up to three grades can attend, except for grades 1 and 2.
Kindergarten students and students in grades 1 and 2 of elementary school are not subject to the density level up to level 3 of social distancing and can attend school every day.
In the 4th stage of distancing, where there are more than 2,000 new confirmed cases nationwide, all of them must switch to remote classes.
Instead, 1:1 or 1:2 face-to-face education is possible even at Level 4 for students in special schools or special classes who have difficulty in conducting remote classes.
The government's distance reform plan will be implemented from next month, but considering that most schools enter summer vacation from mid-July, the new school density standard will be applied from the next semester.
(Photo = Yonhap News)