Students Returning from Hubei Province in China Face 2-Week 'No School Attendance'... 'Postponement of School Opening' Also Under Review

Ministry of Education Implements 'Self-Quarantine' Measures for Students and Staff... Attendance Recognized
Strengthening Response through Pre-Inspection of Educational Institutions' Preparedness

On the 28th, as concerns about the spread intensified with the occurrence of the fourth confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection, passengers at the departure hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport were wearing masks while preparing to depart. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The education sector, which is set to start the new semester sequentially right after the Lunar New Year holiday, has been put on high alert due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). Each education office is also considering the option of postponing the start of the semester depending on the situation.

On the morning of the 28th, the Ministry of Education held a nationwide meeting of deputy superintendents of education from cities and provinces, chaired by Vice Minister Park Baek-beom, to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. At the meeting, Vice Minister Park urged, "If there are any students or staff returning from Hubei Province, China, who show suspicious symptoms, please immediately report to the local health center or the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (phone 1339)."

Meanwhile, the education authorities issued a guideline for students and staff who have visited Hubei Province to undergo a 2-week self-quarantine. Even if there are no suspicious symptoms, they are instructed not to come to school, and the quarantine period will be counted as attendance. Since infectious diseases can rapidly spread to the local community through group settings such as schools, this measure aims to block transmission in advance.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education also held an emergency meeting of department heads chaired by Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon on the same morning, deciding to strengthen hygiene management for students and keep all options open, including postponing the start of the semester, depending on the situation.

Superintendent Cho emphasized, "Please respond very strictly by including not only students who recently visited China but also staff members in the management target, and require students to wear masks without exception when attending school."