"No Community Transmission" Situation Monitored... Consultation with Health Authorities Needed
Educational Institutions with Many Foreign Students, Such as Korean Language Institutes, to Suspend Classes Temporarily
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, Incheon International Airport, wore masks while preparing to depart. Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) spreads, some parents are demanding a delay in the start of the school term for students. However, the government has decided to proceed with the opening of elementary, middle, and high schools as scheduled, considering that there is currently no community transmission. Korean language institutes at universities with many international students have temporarily suspended classes.
The Ministry of Education has ordered students and staff who have visited Hubei Province in China to self-quarantine for 14 days and not attend school. Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon mentioned the need to delay the start of the school term on the 28th, but has not reached a conclusion on a blanket delay or school closure, choosing instead to monitor the situation and continue reviewing it. This is because the decision to delay the start of the school term cannot be made solely by the education office and requires legal review and consultation with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
According to the Ministry of Education's "Student Infectious Disease Prevention and Crisis Response Manual," if quarantine authorities recommend school closure or if it is judged that normal classes are impossible due to a "national crisis situation," the school principal may independently close the school, or the education authorities may order closure or suspension of classes. In such cases, prior consultation with infectious disease experts and the Minister of Health and Welfare is required.
For this reason, the Ministry of Education is cautious about a nationwide delay in the start of the school term. A Ministry of Education official explained, "Although the relevant ministries discussed the option of delaying the start of the school term to alleviate parents' concerns, considering that no community transmission has occurred and that the government is strengthening the quarantine system nationwide, it was decided to operate schools normally."
The official added, "This is not a matter for the Ministry of Education or education offices to decide independently; it requires review and consultation by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the speed of disease spread, etc. We are not currently considering a blanket delay or suspension of classes."
Currently, the Ministry of Education and 17 metropolitan and provincial education offices have instructed students and staff who have visited Hubei Province since the 13th not to attend school and to self-quarantine for two weeks from their date of entry, even if no symptoms of the novel coronavirus appear. Attendance will be recognized for students who enter self-quarantine. The Ministry of Education has also urged schools to cancel or hold small-scale group events such as graduation and closing ceremonies.
Meanwhile, not only elementary, middle, and high schools but also Korean language education institutions (Korean language institutes) operated by universities for international students have all suspended classes. Although universities are on vacation until the start of the spring semester in March, language programs for international students were scheduled to operate normally except during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Yonsei University and Korea University language institutes suspended classes starting on the 28th, and Ewha Womans University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Sogang University have also taken measures to suspend classes for about a week.
A representative from a private university in Seoul said, "Language institutes with many international students have frequent contact with overseas entrants, and in some universities, the proportion of Chinese students is quite high. Many students traveled to and from China during the recent Lunar New Year holiday." The representative added, "We plan to suspend classes for the time being and respond by checking whether there are students who have visited China or Hubei Province or students showing suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus, following the guidelines of health authorities."
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