‘Thermal Imaging Camera’ Support Only for Schools with Over 300 Students in Gwangju Sparks ‘Controversy’

Jeong Muchang, Gwangju City Councilor, "Many Parents Worried Ahead of School Opening"... Points Out Discrimination

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Regarding COVID-19, it has been revealed that the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education provided 'thermal imaging cameras' only to large schools with more than 300 students among the 321 schools in the district.

On the 7th, Jeong Muchang, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, pointed out, "Among the 35 elementary, middle, and high schools excluded from the thermal imaging camera support, only non-contact thermometers have been provided, causing considerable concern for parents who have to send their children to school ahead of offline reopening."

According to the thermal imaging camera installation data submitted by the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education to Councilor Jeong Muchang, the office installed 332 thermal imaging cameras in 284 schools out of 321 schools in the district, including 5 special schools and 1 various school.

By school type, thermal imaging cameras were installed in 131 out of 154 elementary schools with 156 units, 82 out of 91 middle schools with 87 units, and 65 out of 68 high schools with 83 units.

It was found that the remaining 35 schools do not have thermal imaging cameras, and the number of students in these 35 schools without installation is about 5,000.

Councilor Jeong Muchang proposed an alternative, saying, "In preparation for the upcoming offline reopening, thermal imaging cameras should be installed in all schools within Gwangju city, and secondly, non-contact thermometers should be used to ensure the utmost safety of students."

In response, a representative from the Office of Education said, "Due to budget constraints, thermal imaging cameras were installed only in schools with more than 300 students, and there are plans to install additional cameras as soon as the budget is secured."

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