By Xu Aiying and Lee Hana
The new school year will begin on April 9 with online classes in phases following several delays due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on March 31 told a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on responses to the coronavirus, "Given the number of school days per year and exam schedules, blindly continuing to delay classes and disregarding children's right to learn are not easy."
"As an alternative, we are considering holding online classes."
The prime minister said all students should be guaranteed devices and internet connection with the proper time for adjustment, adding that the schedules of tests and university entrance exams would be adjusted accordingly.
Earlier on March 27, the Ministry of Education prepared guidelines in the event of remote classes to ensure that school resumes in a systematic manner during the outbreak through such classes.
The guidelines include stipulations based on conditions for schools and students such as holding classes in real time for students and those based on the application of content, and structuring courses around assignments, as well as outlining curricula approved by school superintendents and principals.
xuaiy@korea.kr