"Afraid to Send Kids to School or Academy" ... Parents Demand 'School Opening Postponement'

Concerns Over the Spread of 'Shinjong Corona' Increase Anxiety During the School Opening Season

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] "We first made them wear masks and sent hand sanitizers telling them to wash their hands frequently..."

As the number of patients infected with the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) increases, kindergartens and schools that reopened after the Lunar New Year holiday and winter vacation have been put on alert. The government recently urged students and staff who entered from Hubei Province, China within the last two weeks not to attend school for 14 days, while some parents have demanded a postponement of the school opening.

According to the education sector on the 28th, from the 28th to the 31st after the holidays ended, most kindergartens and elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide will resume normal classes for about two weeks until the closing ceremony and spring vacation in mid-next month. In Seoul, 90% of the approximately 1,300 elementary, middle, and high schools have already started or are scheduled to start this week.

Parents are concerned about the current spread of suspected novel coronavirus infection cases, especially due to the high volume of interregional movement during the holiday period.

A working mom with a kindergarten child (Apgujeong-dong, Seoul) said, "As confirmed cases increased during the holiday, I did not want to send my child to kindergarten, but since it was difficult to take leave immediately, I had no choice but to send her wearing a mask." She added, "I sprayed disinfectant on the child's coat and kindergarten bag and sent antibacterial soap for handwashing separately, but since she is still young, I am worried whether she can manage hygiene on her own."

A parent of an elementary school student (Gireum-dong, Seoul) said, "Children, who have weaker immunity than adults, are exposed to group life, so no matter how careful you are, it is never too much." He expressed anxiety, saying, "I think it would be better to postpone the school opening and observe the situation, but there has been no contact from the school yet."

Another parent (Daehung-dong, Seoul) said, "The Taekwondo academy my child attends recently sent a notice requesting that infants and teachers who have been to Wuhan, China within the last 14 days refrain from attending even if they have no symptoms." He added, "While I feel reassured that the government is handling the situation well, on the other hand, I think the situation must be really serious, so I plan not to send my child to the academy for the time being."

A citizen petition to delay the opening of elementary schools was posted on the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's citizen petition board and received over 2,000 agreements overnight. The petitioner argued, "There may be disruptions to the education schedule and complaints about extending the vacation, but I believe the risk (of infection spread) must be reduced."

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, also said at an emergency meeting of department heads held that morning, "We need to consider managing not only students and staff who have been to Wuhan but all students and staff who have been to China," adding, "Depending on the situation, postponing the school opening should also be considered."

The Ministry of Education also issued guidelines that students and staff who recently visited Hubei Province, China, should not attend school for at least two weeks considering the 14-day incubation period and should self-quarantine. Since infectious diseases spread rapidly to the community through group living, this measure aims to prevent such spread in advance by instructing not to come to school even if there are no suspected symptoms. The self-quarantine period will be recognized as attendance.

The Ministry of Education also plans to send manuals for student infectious disease prevention and crisis response to the academy departments of education offices nationwide and operate a task force to report related situations.