"Neighboring School is Closed, But What About Our School?" ... Complaints Surge Over Inconsistent Closure Notices

Only Schools Ordered to Close Are Publicly Named... Schools Decide on Confirmed Cases' Movement Routes Themselves
"Unified Closure Guidelines and Application System Needed in Infectious Disease Emergencies," Claims Arise

On the 6th, Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education issued a closure order for 42 kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools in Jungnang-gu and Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection had visited. A school official is closing the entrance door at Samseon Middle School in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] #Working mom Im, living in Songpa-gu, was startled as soon as she arrived at work when she saw a text message from her child's school. It informed that due to a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) in a nearby area, the school had decided on an emergency closure, and all children had to leave immediately after arriving at school. Im said, "The school attendant dropped off my child at the school gate and left, and there was no one nearby to urgently ask for help," adding, "Fortunately, my child was able to stay in the school's temporary care classroom, but the child was left alone in the room until the care teachers arrived."

#Lee from Mapo-gu received the school's newsletter three times on the 7th. After news spread in the morning that a confirmed coronavirus case had visited a nearby large supermarket, the school informed that the graduation and closing ceremonies scheduled for the 12th would be moved up to the 10th. Later in the evening, they corrected this, stating that the entire school would be closed starting from the 10th. The graduation ceremony was postponed to the 27th. Lee said, "I had arranged for a university student caregiver to look after my child starting from the spring break, but I had to urgently ask them to come from the 11th," adding, "I couldn't find anyone for the 10th, so I took a day off."

Although more schools are deciding to close due to the impact of the novel coronavirus, many parents are unable to confirm accurate information or care guidance, increasing confusion. In Seoul, two closure orders were announced on the 5th and 7th. A total of 42 schools in Jungnang-gu and Seongbuk-gu were first ordered to close, and two days later, 32 schools in Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Yangcheon-gu also received closure orders.

However, nearby schools not subject to closure orders decide on closures at the discretion of their principals and only report to the education office, so no separate public announcements are made. A Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education official explained, "Currently, closure orders are issued only for areas where confirmed coronavirus cases reside, and schools along the movement paths are allowed to decide closures on their own," adding, "Since official explanations from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention come later, temporary school operation committees are convened to decide on closures, making the situation urgent."

Parents argue that in situations like this, where infectious diseases are a concern, it is necessary to share closure statuses of nearby schools as well. Depending on which area and range of schools have decided to close, neighboring schools also need to respond accordingly. Parents share closure status information directly through local online communities, and there is a movement to disclose the real names of residences of confirmed or contact cases, as well as schools or academies they visited.

Im from Songpa-gu said, "A confirmed case emerged in an apartment complex, but the nearby school delayed closure, while a school farther away closed first," adding, "Even that was because parents demanded the closure."

An elementary school teacher in Seodaemun-gu explained, "After news reports that a confirmed case stayed nearby, parents flooded with inquiries, but it took about a day to decide whether to close," adding, "Just then, the Ministry of Education announced that reducing school days due to the novel coronavirus was possible, so we immediately started closure and spring break."

Irregular closure announcements may create gaps in preventing community infections and increase parental anxiety and complaints. A representative from the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations stated, "In infectious disease emergencies, education authorities should actively support schools to respond flexibly with adjustments to school days and closures, and promptly disclose related information," emphasizing, "A system should be established where unified closure and school suspension guidelines from education authorities like the education office are prepared and swiftly applied, rather than leaving it to each school to handle on their own."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.