Schools which have been closed due to the fear of the spread of COVID-19 will reopen in stages starting Wednesday of next week.
High school seniors will return to school on May 13, while other grades will gradually return to school in the following weeks.
Meanwhile, elementary and middle schools with 60 students or fewer are allowed to accept students beginning May 13.
Todd Thacker reports.

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to reopen schools beginning next week. The new school year was postponed by more than two months in a precautionary measure against COVID-19.


High school seniors who will take the college entrance examinations at the end of this year will return to school first on May 13th, while other grades will gradually return to school in the following weeks.
Those in grades 11, 9, 1 and 2 will return to school on May 20th.
Grades 10, 8, 3 and 4 will return to school on May 27.
Middle school students in grade 7 and elementary school students in grades 5 and 6 will return on June 1.


Those in higher grades of middle and high school and the lower grades of elementary school will return first.
The objective is to reduce parents’ burden of taking care of their young children at home. Problems experienced while participation in tele-classes by the children have also been taken into consideration.

Recording
Yoo Eun-hae / Education Minister
High school seniors who will take the college entrance examinations this year and students of small schools with 60 or fewer students who would better comply with the minimized social distancing campaign will return to school first on May 13.
[녹취 유은혜 / 교육부 장관 ]
"진로와 진학에 부담이 큰 고등학교 3학년과 생활속 거리두기 실천이 충분히 가능한 지역소재 재학생 60명 이하의 소규모 초,중학교는 5월 13일부터 우선 등교하도록 하겠습니다."

The specifics of the academic calendar will be determined by each local education office by taking into consideration local infection trends and the number and density of students in their respective classrooms.

New methods that make flexible class hours possible will be considered: Students can be divided by grade or class to go to school at different times and can be split into morning or afternoon classes.

Meanwhile, elementary and middle schools with 60 students or fewer are allowed to accept students beginning May 13.


In Jeju, there are 20 of these small schools, including 13 elementary schools and 7 middle schools.


The island’s education office will determine dates for school reopenings after consulting with local principals.

Todd Thacker, KCTV