Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Expands Operation of 'COVID-19 Incident Response Headquarters'

Jang Seok-woong, Superintendent of Education for Jeonnam, established a 'Special COVID-19 Promotion Plan' through an expanded executive meeting on the 24th. (Photo by Jeonnam Office of Education)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education has raised its response level to the highest to block the spread of the COVID-19 virus infection.

On the 24th, according to Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education, as the national infectious disease crisis alert related to the COVID-19 virus was raised from "caution" to "serious," the existing emergency response team will be expanded and operated as an "accident response headquarters."

On the same day, the Office of Education held an expanded executive meeting presided over by Superintendent Jang Seok-woong in the main office situation room, established a special COVID-19 promotion plan, and convened a video conference with 22 city and county offices of education to share related information.

The accident response headquarters, with the superintendent as the head, will have a situation room, situation team, working team, support team, and press team, and will promptly take measures to prevent COVID-19 infection and respond to confirmed cases in schools and affiliated institutions at all levels.

In particular, in response to the national-level one-week postponement of the 2020 new school year opening scheduled for the 2nd of next month, follow-up measures will be swiftly prepared to minimize student damage.

A notice regarding the school opening delay will be sent to parents to alleviate anxiety, and support measures for home learning through online platforms will also be devised. Additionally, since students are expected to visit PC rooms and similar places due to the delay, lifestyle guidance will be strengthened to discourage such activities.

The Office of Education will actively seek ways to secure the legally required number of school days due to the delay in the school opening, such as adjusting vacation periods, and will also prepare and implement emergency care service support measures for dual-income families, such as the "family care leave system."

Furthermore, through prior demand surveys, if requested, thorough safety measures will be devised before providing school care services and child care helpers.

Also, in preparation for further delays in school openings and additional situations such as school closures, a comprehensive review of the academic schedule will be conducted, and various training sessions or group activities involving large gatherings will be postponed or canceled.

Private academies and tutoring centers in the province will also be strongly encouraged to close temporarily, and 77 health personnel will be provided to schools without assigned health teachers. Public libraries and lifelong education facilities will be fully closed until the situation calms down, and various field experience activities will be minimized as much as possible.

Health checks and management will be strengthened for visitors from other cities and provinces, newly transferred teachers, students residing in other cities and provinces, and temporary teachers, especially focusing on areas where confirmed cases are rapidly increasing.

In addition, the Office of Education and affiliated institutions will strengthen quarantine and hygiene management, including fever checks and mask-wearing inspections for visitors, and urgently instructed all schools to post COVID-19 prevention rules and notices at their main gates.

Superintendent Jang Seok-woong said, "The COVID-19 infection situation is becoming very serious," and urged, "Please do not let your guard down for a moment and actively respond to protect the health of students and the Jeonnam education family."

He added, "Please make every effort in lifestyle guidance and home study guidance to prevent students from visiting multi-use facilities such as PC rooms due to the school opening delay and academy closures."