Extended school closure

Inevitable step to prevent cluster infections among students

The spring semester at all the country's kindergartens and elementary, middle and high schools will begin in April for the first time in history. The Ministry of Education said Tuesday that the start of the new school year would be postponed for another two weeks to prevent cluster infections in schools. The postponement, the third of its kind, will push back the start of the new academic year until April 6. The spring semester here usually begins in March.

Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said the date of school openings could be brought forward or delayed further, depending on how the coronavirus situation develops. The further delay of the new school year is an inevitable step to stop infections in schools from spilling over to households and local communities. As the spring semester is beginning five weeks later than normal, households and schools will face a host of problems. Working parents with preschool and earlier-grade schoolchildren are certainly finding it more difficult to look after their children. Schools also appear to be at a loss over shortened academic schedules and curricula.

The importance of the government's role cannot be overemphasized in difficult times like these. The education ministry has yet to announce any delay to this year's college entrance exam scheduled for Nov. 19, but it's necessary to decide on that matter as quickly as possible to alleviate students' anxiety and reduce confusion. The ministry should also endeavor to ensure emergency childcare programs at kindergartens and elementary schools are running smoothly for working parents.

Despite the government's guidance, more cram schools, known as hagwon, seem to be resuming operations. Given the desperate need for social distancing amid lingering concerns over mass infections, the government should encourage them to suspend operations voluntarily by promising emergency loans. No less important are schools' thorough disinfection measures, including rearranging desks and chairs to widen the distance between students, before the delayed new semester begins.