Gov’t unveils measures to prevent boycotting med students from failing semester

The government on Wednesday unveiled a set of guidelines loosening class requirements for medical students to help them avoid semester failures due to their ongoing class boycott protesting an increase in the medical school quota.The education ministry announced the guidelines as many medical students have been collectively boycotting classes for the fifth month in protest against the government's increase of the nationwide medical school quota by some 1,500 seats for 2025.Unable to meet class requirements for the first academic semester of the year, which ends in August for most medical schools, boycotting medical students are currently at risk of failing the term.Under the latest relief measures, medical schools are permitted to determine the academic failure of their students on a yearly basis instead of the current semester basis.The change means that medical schools can decide whether to fail a student due to insufficient class hours at the end of February next year, not in August this year.Me dical schools are also allowed to flexibly extend or shorten the duration of each semester or operate three semesters per year instead of the current two, giving students enough time to catch up with their class hour requirements.Schools can also offer classes at night, online or on weekends for students.Additionally, the government also plans to schedule an additional national medical license test in 2025 to provide more opportunities for students to sit for the exam, ministry officials said.Education Minister Lee Jo-ho urged boycotting medical students to "end the collective action and make the responsible decision to return to school."Source: Yonhap News Agency