By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae

All students in their final years of middle and high school nationwide on April 9 held ceremonies to officially open the school year online.

The start of the school year was postponed three times due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The nation's first online ceremonies to launch a new school year saw teachers and students completing the ceremonies and first classes without much trouble.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hae visited Gosaek High School in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do Province, to encourage students and teachers.

"The first online ceremony for the start of a school year in Korean history has begun," she said. "Korea will walk a path never before attempted, and the online ceremonies for school openings will certainly be a catalyst for educational innovation that advances future education."

Minister Yoo also participated in Gosaek's ceremony and spoke to students.

She also checked the "support and situation room for remote classes" of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to inspect the supply of smart devices to elementary schools and students in their first and second years of middle and high school and directly listen to related problems.

To provide "a great help" to stable operations of online classes, the minister asked the room's staff to find methods that promptly resolve difficulties and actively support solutions.

The day before the start of the school year for students in their final years of middle and high school, the Ministry of Education on April 8 announced 10 guidelines for the smooth operation of online courses.

The guidelines are categorized as "stable use" and "safe use," and explain how to prevent a temporary flood of traffic that disrupts service as well as hacking.

kimhyelin211@korea.kr