According to the Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education, four fine dust warnings were issued in the region last month alone, some of which lasted for nearly a full day. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – An increasing number of schools across South Korea are canceling outdoor activities amid growing health concerns over fine dust.
According to the Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education, four fine dust warnings were issued in the region last month alone, some of which lasted for nearly a full day.
On March 13, when high fine dust levels were recorded, 327 out of 329 schools in the northern part of the region didn’t schedule any outdoor classes, with PE classes and field trips replaced with indoor classes.
Among the 329 schools, 253 changed class schedules in response to fine dust, in addition to having establishing emergency network systems among parents and indoor air quality control systems.
“We are checking with an official in charge of fine dust at every school in real time to effectively respond to fine dust levels,” an official at the Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education said.
The Chungcheongbuk-do Office of Education recently allotted a budget of 249.6 million won to lease air purifiers for 416 classrooms at 124 special schools.
The government announced plans last Thursday to install air purifiers in every classroom at all kindergartens, elementary schools and special schools within the next three years.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
