Photo/Illutration Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike talks about Tokyo’s fight against the new coronavirus at a news conference on March 30. (Reina Kitamura)

The education ministry recommended continued closures of schools in areas with increasing numbers of novel coronavirus infections but again left the decision to local authorities.

The suggestion by education minister Koichi Hagiuda on April 1 follows vague and changing policies that have put the onus on local officials on whether to resume classes for the new school year.

After a meeting of the government task force formed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, Hagiuda said local education authorities in high-risk areas should consider the possibility of shutting down schools again in the new academic year.

“If areas are seeing a steady rise in the number of infections and face the possibility of an explosive growth in the number of cases, education authorities there should weigh the option of closing schools in certain places,” he told reporters.

He was referring to the rise in confirmed infections in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kansai region, including Osaka.

Hagiuda said it is local authorities’ call.

“It is their responsibility,” he said. “Heads of municipalities should make the decision for public elementary and junior high schools.”

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the same day that the metropolitan government plans to extend the shutdown of public high schools and special assistance schools through May 6, about a month after the new school year begins.

Elementary, junior high and senior high schools, as well as special assistance schools, have been closed across the nation since March 2 after the ministry requested the emergency shutdown on Feb. 28.

On March 20, the government decided not to call for a prolonged closure for all schools in the country, suggesting that some schools can reopen. Again, the ministry left the decision to local authorities.

The ministry published guidelines on March 24 to help local authorities decide on whether to resume classes.

Hagiuda said on April 1 that the education ministry is ready to give advice and guidance to local leaders. In late afternoon that day, the ministry sent revised guidelines to prefectural education boards nationwide concerning the reopening of schools.

The new guidelines said school officials should consider measures to prevent students from forming large crowds in one place, such as adopting staggered commuting hours by students and teachers and dispersing school attendance by grade or class.

(This article was compiled from reports by Ryo Miyazaki and Natsuki Okamura.)