"Daegu·Gyeongbuk Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Unable to Open" ... Unprecedented 'Full Shutdown' Emergency

Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread Lead Education Authorities to Consider Postponing School Opening
Possibility of Adjusting Academic Schedule Following Additional Guidelines from KDCA and Central Disaster Management Headquarters

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Education authorities are seriously considering postponing the start of the new semester for elementary, middle, and high schools due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is an unprecedented situation where the entire academic schedule across all educational levels is being delayed, following the postponement of university semesters.

As of the 20th, the regions where opening on March 2nd seems impossible are Daegu and Gyeongbuk. A Daegu Office of Education official told reporters on the phone, "Since the 19th, all after-school activities and other programs have been suspended, and schools with dormitories have been instructed to delay the dormitory admission date," adding, "At this point, it is highly likely that the start of elementary, middle, and high schools will also be postponed by a few days."

The Daegu Office of Education has already issued a closure order for all 343 kindergartens in the city starting from that day. While the Daegu Office of Education is considering a full closure decision for elementary, middle, and high schools in the area, if a significant number of confirmed cases or self-quarantined individuals occur among teachers or staff, a school closure order suspending attendance and work for both students and teachers may also be implemented.

The Gyeongbuk Office of Education is also on high alert. On the 20th, following the previous day, they held an emergency COVID-19 countermeasure meeting and instructed schools to reduce entrance ceremonies, urgently deploy health personnel, and have teachers from affected areas conduct self-study. In preparation for possible adjustments to academic schedules such as closures centered on regions with confirmed cases like Yeongcheon and Gyeongsan, they checked the status of meal support for low-income students and began reviewing alternative class plans to compensate for missed lessons.

The sudden increase in confirmed cases has heightened anxiety among parents not only in Daegu and Gyeongbuk but also in other regions. In Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, where an elementary school student was confirmed positive, parents are inundated with inquiries. On the Blue House's public petition board, a petition requesting a full postponement of the start of elementary, middle, and high schools was posted, stating, "Schools are dangerous spaces where students spend long hours in enclosed areas, and one infected student can spread the virus to many others and their families."

Postponement of school openings or closure measures are decisions made autonomously by each metropolitan and provincial office of education, but there is a possibility of measures being issued at the Ministry of Education level. The Ministry initially intended to minimize school closures for kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools to ensure the normal operation of the new semester curriculum. However, as the spread of COVID-19 has become serious, they are closely monitoring the situation with all possibilities open, including full closure orders.

Earlier this month, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters allowed metropolitan and provincial superintendents to decide on school closures in consultation with the Minister of Education based on school and community situations. However, as community infections are spreading, additional guidelines may be necessary if the infectious disease crisis level is raised.

An official from the Ministry of Education said, "Since the academic schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools have all ended and there is some time before the start of the semester, we are monitoring the situation," adding, "If additional guidelines are issued by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, we plan to consult with each metropolitan and provincial office of education to prepare detailed measures."