Currently, Kyonggi University's academic policy for the first semester of 2022 follows face-to-face teaching principles. According to the high number of new patients every day, there are frequent confirmed infections among students attending lectures, resulting in difficulties with regard to class attendance. When a student tests positive for COVID, they have to quarantine for 7 days, so they can't attend lectures. On the other hand, all other students always have to go to school with the anxiety that they don't know when and where they will get COVID-19. There are various opinions about whether it’s right or wrong to continue face-to-face lectures under these circumstances.

Interview

Q1. How did the school respond after you were diagnosed with COVID? (Student who tested positive)

Confirmed student: The bottom line is, you will not be able to participate in class. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, you will be asked to submit proof of positive test results and documents to the professor in charge in order to excuse your attendance. Most of the professors will excuse the attendance, but some professors do not allow it, so it has become a hot topic in the school community. Attendance is allowed, but there is no way to participate in class, so I think that the confirmed students' right to study will be infringed. Several students presented their opinions, and the student council recently suggested this to the school. In addition, the school will contact you to check your movements within the school. The school asks confirmed students what classrooms they visited, and students who took classes with COVID-19 confirmed patients are advised to perform rapid antigen tests or self-tests at home.

Q2. How often do you receive the notification of confirmed cases from the school? Also, what do you think about having a face-to-face class in a situation where a large 

number of confirmed students attend? (Student who has not tested positive)

Non-confirmed student: Since the face-to-face lessons started taking place, I heard that after attending the face-to-face class, there were confirmed cases among students who took a class or there were lots of infections in specific departments through a professor. Nonetheless, I think we must continue with face-to-face classes until it is no longer possible. However, the fact that there isn't information about the lectures like proper course videos requires improvement on the school's side. We’re not just talking about one or two people, but more than 200,000 to 300,000 people test positive each day, and people can go to other places such as movie theaters and restaurants. I think that the transition to non-face-to-face courses will negatively impact the essence of the school. Therefore, I think we have to find solutions for confirmed students to get a valid education.

Q3. Since there are many lectures that are currently conducting face-to-face lectures, what do you think about continuing this rule?

Non-confirmed student: If non-face-to-face lectures are implemented, those who continued to register without taking a leave of absence will have taken face-to-face classes for less than one month total up through their third year. Especially in departments focused on theory like the College of Humanities or business-related subjects, students will finish college life lacking a decent education. Of course, had they known this would be the case, some students may have chosen to study another way. Some of them may have planned to study alone instead of attending college. I know that there are lots of students who request non-face-to-face courses because of health and safety, and I agree with them, but certain face-to- face courses have to continue.

Confirmed student: As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is increasingly out of control, I think the time to prevent COVID-19 through non-face-to-face measures has passed. Now, I think it is necessary to return to daily life by conducting face-to-face classes. If professors teach non-face-to-face, it will be difficult to conduct experiments and practical lessons, resulting in less effective education. Also, when participating in online class, concentration was often reduced due to external factors such as poor network conditions. There were many times when I thought it was not good in terms of fairness as there are many students who cheat on non-face-to-face tests rather than face-to-face. For this reason, I think the decision to conduct face-to-face classes is appropriate.

Q4. Tell me if there is any effort that the school can make to improve education for absent students or to improve the 

safety of other students.

Non-confirmed student: Whether the student has tested positive or not, the right of education must be guaranteed. Thus, in this situation where face-to-face lectures are continuing, options for confirmed students should be available. There should be various options such as uploading a recorded lecture or transmitting class as a real-time lecture.

Confirmed student: COVID-19 confirmed students are not able to know the contents of classes for a week during the self-quarantine period. Moreover, students who entered in 2020 and 2021 rarely go to school due to COVID-19, so they do not have many close friends, so they cannot receive class notes. Therefore, I would like the school to provide a system to install a camera in each classroom or turn on Zoom so that only the voices of the professors can be heard. Even if it is not the same as above, I think a system should be established as soon as possible so that both confirmed and non-confirmed students' right to learn is not violated. Also, for the safety of non-confirmed students, eating snacks or drinks in the classroom should be avoided. I think it is necessary to suggest ways to reduce the infection rate as much as possible, such as continuous ventilation, and strictly ensure that these measures are followed.

 "Since many schools have conducted non-face-to-face classes for two years, we understand the academic policy of conducting face-to-face classes. Although classes are being conducted face-to-face, the school must ensure that both confirmed and non-confirmed students have the right to learn. I think that alternatives that guarantee the right to learn should be presented by the school. In addition, face- to-face classes must be conducted by thoroughly managing the safety of non-confirmed students."

76th Reporter • JEONG SEUNG HYE • nora28@naver.com 

77th Cub Reporter • JOE YEON WOO • amyjoe0213@naver.com