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| Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae speaks at a media briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul, Monday, announcing the dates when students can to return to school. Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
The government has decided to gradually reopen schools across the country, starting May 13, based on the judgment that the nation's coronavirus infection rate has been plateauing, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said Monday.
High school seniors will be prioritized and allowed to return to school May 13 as it is urgent for them to prepare for the annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). The national college entrance exam has been postponed to Dec. 3 this year due to the pandemic ― it is usually held in November.
"Middle school seniors and juniors at high schools in addition to elementary grades 1 and 2 will return to school, May 20, followed by freshmen at high schools, juniors at middle schools and elementary grades 3 and 4, May 27," Yoo said during a briefing.
Freshmen at middle schools and elementary grades 5 and 6 will return to school, June 1, she noted.
The minister added that the decision on the date of school reopening was made in consideration of the possible impact of the so-called "golden holiday" between April 30 and May 5 with Buddha's Birthday, Labor Day and Children Day's all falling close together.
Many citizens are expected to travel across the country during the holiday at a time when the risk of infection still exists.
The health authorities believe that the coronavirus' incubation period is about 10 to 14 days.
The decision on reopening schools comes as the government decided to further loosen its guidelines on social distancing, beginning Wednesday, amid clear signs of a slowdown in the number of new COVID-19 infections here.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday that the nation will move on to a "distancing in daily life" plan, which will allow the phased reopening of facilities that have been shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The relaxed guidelines come about 40 days after the government intensified its social distancing drive, March 22, asking churches and other facilities to suspend operations, while advising citizens to refrain from going outside and gathering in large groups.
The nation's elementary, middle and high schools that usually start the new school year in early March have also remained closed for about two months.
The ministry initially postponed the new school term to April as part of precautionary measures.
Even after the beginning of the new school term, the ministry did not have students physically attend them. Instead, students resumed classes online in phases, beginning with high school and middle school seniors, April 9.
The education ministry has so far collected opinions from local education superintendents, teachers and parents as well as the health authorities on when to resume school operations.
Meanwhile, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jung Eun-kyeong warned about the possibility of infection clusters after the resumption of school operations, especially among lower grade students.
"In preparation for the risk, the health authorities, together with the education ministry, have drawn up various guidelines," she said.
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