S. Korea urges schools nationwide to limit no. of students in classrooms ahead of new semester
- 4 years ago
유은혜 "수도권 외 지역도 학교 밀집도 2/3 이상으로 낮추길"... 서울 대학들, 온라인강의 확대 재검토
With the country battling to contain the latest outbreak of COVID-19, South Korea's education authorities are deep in thought as to how schools will be able re-open for the upcoming fall semester.
Education chiefs are calling on schools to limit the number of students in classrooms to two-thirds or less to help curb the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, universities are reconsidering their plans to resume face-to-face classes.
Oh Jung-hee has the details.
With the current coronavirus situation in South Korea being assessed as "very grave," authorities are urging education facilities to take part in efforts to curb the outbreak.
Seoul's Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Yoo Eun-hae, on Wednesday hosted a virtual meeting with nationwide education chiefs to convey the severity of the situation.
"During a one-week period from August 11th through August 17th, 65 students and nine teaching staff tested positive. 77-percent were in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province."
The key is to decrease density within schools, which are due to start their fall semesters in September.
The government, which has already advised schools in the Seoul metropolitan area to limit the number of students to a third or two-thirds until September 11th,... called on schools in other areas to follow suit.
"We once again request schools in regions other than the greater Seoul area to prioritize students' safety and reduce the density to two-thirds or less."
Private academies with over 300 students in the Seoul metropolitan area regarded as high-risk facilities are banned from opening until the end of this month.
"Education offices and municipal governments in the capital area should form joint teams to check how these academies are operating. Other provinces should also work together to prevent students from visiting high-risk facilities."
Universities in Seoul are reconsidering the decision to resume face-to-face classes in the fall.
They had originally wished to proceed with a combination of both online and in-person classes, depending on the number of students enrolled on each course.
Yonsei University has switched all of its classes to online until the end of October... and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, until mid-September.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
With the country battling to contain the latest outbreak of COVID-19, South Korea's education authorities are deep in thought as to how schools will be able re-open for the upcoming fall semester.
Education chiefs are calling on schools to limit the number of students in classrooms to two-thirds or less to help curb the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, universities are reconsidering their plans to resume face-to-face classes.
Oh Jung-hee has the details.
With the current coronavirus situation in South Korea being assessed as "very grave," authorities are urging education facilities to take part in efforts to curb the outbreak.
Seoul's Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Yoo Eun-hae, on Wednesday hosted a virtual meeting with nationwide education chiefs to convey the severity of the situation.
"During a one-week period from August 11th through August 17th, 65 students and nine teaching staff tested positive. 77-percent were in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province."
The key is to decrease density within schools, which are due to start their fall semesters in September.
The government, which has already advised schools in the Seoul metropolitan area to limit the number of students to a third or two-thirds until September 11th,... called on schools in other areas to follow suit.
"We once again request schools in regions other than the greater Seoul area to prioritize students' safety and reduce the density to two-thirds or less."
Private academies with over 300 students in the Seoul metropolitan area regarded as high-risk facilities are banned from opening until the end of this month.
"Education offices and municipal governments in the capital area should form joint teams to check how these academies are operating. Other provinces should also work together to prevent students from visiting high-risk facilities."
Universities in Seoul are reconsidering the decision to resume face-to-face classes in the fall.
They had originally wished to proceed with a combination of both online and in-person classes, depending on the number of students enrolled on each course.
Yonsei University has switched all of its classes to online until the end of October... and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, until mid-September.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.