Urgent Need to Analyze the Impact of COVID-19 on Infants, Toddlers, and School-aged Children
Ahn Cheol-soo, Leader of the People Party / On the 27th, he is delivering an 'Emergency Statement on Hwacheon Daeyu' at the National Assembly. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, argued on the 12th that "transparent masks should be provided to children." He emphasized that the government should prepare measures such as supporting transparent masks so that children, who learn to speak by watching lip movements, can properly acquire language skills.
On the same day, Ahn stated through social media (SNS) that "it is urgent to provide ‘transparent masks’ to children."
He explained, "According to a research team at Brown University in the U.S. last August, if the average IQ of children aged 3 months to 3 years over the past decade is set at 100, the average IQ of children born after COVID-19 is said to be 78," adding, "This appears to be due to reduced interaction with the outside world as daycare centers and playgrounds were closed."
Ahn added, "Similar reports are emerging in South Korea as well," and introduced, "A 4-year-old child in South Korea reportedly pronounces the word ‘sagwa’ (apple) as ‘a...gwa.’ It is said that 70 to 80% of the pronunciations of 6- and 7-year-old children are slurred, making it difficult for kindergarten teachers to understand the children’s speech."
He explained, "Infants and toddlers learn to speak by watching lip movements, which in turn helps develop their emotions and intelligence. However, children born into a world where everyone wears masks are missing opportunities to learn to speak."
Ahn argued, "According to the ‘2020 National Level Academic Achievement Assessment Analysis Report’ published by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, there is a downward leveling trend with a decrease in middle and high school students in the middle and upper ranks due to COVID-19," and emphasized, "Special measures are needed to address the decline in language ability and intelligence in infants and toddlers caused by COVID-19, as well as the academic achievement gap among elementary, middle, and high school students."
He pointed out, "A comprehensive examination of IQ and EQ is necessary for infants and toddlers, and academic achievement assessments should be conducted for all elementary, middle, and high school students," adding, "If our response is delayed, children born after COVID-19 may carry the ‘original sin of being born in difficult times’ throughout their lives, even after the pandemic ends."
Regarding transparent masks, Ahn specifically mentioned, "They cost about 9,000 to 10,000 won each," and said, "The burden of transparent masks should not be placed on families and daycare centers; the government and local governments should provide support." He added, "While effectively using transparent masks as an auxiliary tool, research and experiments on methods to block COVID-19 infection should be conducted simultaneously," and urged, "I hope the ruling party and government do not use the excuse of ‘lack of funds.’"
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