1st grade elementary school students back at school every weekday

초등학교 1학년 오늘부터 매일 등교 시작..

Most of grades one through twelve students in South Korea returned to the classroom today after about seven months of disruption.
The nation's first graders, in particular, will be attending face-to-face classes every day of the school week starting today upon educational authorities' decision that it is imperative to get those little ones in in-person classroom setting.
First day of school for first graders, Kim Yeon-seung reports.
From Monday, first-grade elementary school students will be back in the classroom every day of the school week.
After seven months of disruption, they will finally be getting the full benefits of face-to-face learning.
"The school gate bustles with excitement as the students pour in for their new face-to-face classes.
The teachers welcome the students in puppet costumes so that their transition from online classes to offline feels a bit friendlier."
Before Monday, the majority of schools only let students come to class once a week and had to supplement those classes with online lessons.
But that long period of remote learning has been tough on both students and parents.
"Since the kids weren't in school, I could see their posture or things like that loosen up. I was also worried that they weren't getting the chance to adapt to school as first graders."
"I couldn't meet with friends and play, but it's so much fun now that we're together "
Education experts say it's especially important for first graders to study in class so they can learn to interact with teachers and classmates.
"This is a critical time for students to acquire basic lifestyle habits and build social skills by making friends. But there is a lot of concern that students are missing this critical time and that this could cause an education gap."
But schools still need to take precautions to keep children safe.
Students in other grades will be coming in on alternate times to follow Seoul education office's guidelines that only allow two-thirds of students to be in school at any one time.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News