Thailand Also Postpones School Opening to July... Concerns Over Side Effects of School Closures in 188 Countries

91% of the Global School-Age Population, 1.6 Billion Students, Are Out of School
US 8-Week School Closure Raises Concerns Over More Than 3% GDP Loss

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As the Thai government decided to postpone the new semester start date from May to July, the number of countries worldwide under school closure orders has increased to 188. Although most countries around the world have implemented school closures as a measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), concerns are also being raised that the side effects, such as social costs caused by school closures, may outweigh the benefits of controlling COVID-19 through school closures.

According to local media such as the Bangkok Post, on the 7th, the Thai government announced that the new semester start date, originally scheduled for May 16, will be postponed until July 1. Nataphon Thipsuwan, Minister of Education of Thailand, stated, "Future classes will be replaced with online learning, and we will review technical compatibility and budget for providing equipment for online learning to teachers and students." The Thai government has issued a school closure order since the 18th of last month due to the COVID-19 situation. Thailand’s academic year normally starts in May, with the first semester running until October, followed by the second semester from November to April.

Together with Thailand, most countries worldwide have currently implemented school closure orders. According to UNESCO, 188 countries worldwide are under school closure orders, and it is estimated that more than 1.6 billion students, about 91% of the global school-age population, are unable to attend school.

Research results have also emerged suggesting that the enormous social costs caused by global school closures may cause greater damage than COVID-19 prevention efforts. According to a study by researchers at University College London in the UK, a 12-week school closure in the UK led to social costs amounting to 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) due to parents taking leave to care for children, and in the US, an 8-week school closure resulted in social costs up to 3% of GDP.

Dr. Russell Viner of the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, who led the study, explained, "Reviewing past cases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) in 2003, school closures are most effective when the incidence rate among children is high. However, although COVID-19 is highly contagious, the incidence rate among children is relatively low. The grounds for closing schools are ambiguous, and attention should rather be paid to the social losses caused by prolonged school closures."

UNICEF has warned that prolonged school closures in underdeveloped countries, where schools play a significant social role, may trigger child abuse. Robert Jenkins, Deputy Director of UNICEF, said, "In many low-income countries, schools protect students from domestic violence and child sexual abuse and provide essential meals. If school closures are prolonged, children in these countries will be exposed to various risks, and there is concern that the rate at which they completely drop out of school will accelerate."

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