S. Korea to open schools online, reschedule college exam

Apr 01, 2020, 09:18 am

By AsiaToday reporter Kim Beom-joo

South Korea will launch online classes for all elementary, middle and high schools in phases from April 9 following repeated delays due to the danger of the COVID-19 virus.

Under the plan, middle and high school students in their third and final year will start to learn online next week. First and second graders at middle and high schools, as well as elementary school students in the fourth to sixth grades will start taking online classes on April 16. The first to third graders at elementary schools will receive online remote learning starting April 20.

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Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae

Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae announced the unprecedented decision Tuesday after a meeting with the central response headquarters at the government complex in Sejong.

The education ministry decided to include the adaptation period of students for online classes to the required number of classes to meet the statutory yearly school days. Schools will remain closed indefinitely due to a steady rise in infections.

The adaptation period for middle and high school students in their third and final year will be from April 9 to 10. Online classes for them will begin on April 13. The adaptation period for first and second graders at middle and high schools as well as fourth, fifth and sixth graders in elementary school will be from April 16 to 17. Their full-scale online classes will begin on April 20.

Online classes will take place remotely. Schools and teachers will begin preparations for remote classes starting Wednesday.

During the adaptation period, students will be able to experience and learn ways to utilize e-contents and platforms.

For kindergartens, the opening will be postponed indefinitely. The education ministry plans to provide guiding materials linked to the revised kindergarten curriculum for parents and kindergartens.

The ministry also decided to postpone the national college entrance, also known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), set for Nov. 19, by two weeks to Dec. 3.

The ministry will announce the revised college student admission plan next month after consultation with the Korean Council for University Education.

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