Photo/Illutration Education minister Koichi Hagiuda holds a news conference on Nov. 27 where he said schools would not be asked to close even if a state of emergency was declared over the pandemic. (Kazuyuki Ito)

No call to close all schools in Japan will be issued even if another state of emergency is declared over the COVID-19 pandemic, the education minister said.

Koichi Hagiuda made the comment on Nov. 27 during a news conference.

In late February, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly asked schools to shut as COVID-19 cases began spreading throughout Japan.

The ministry is also preparing to proceed with the nationwide university entrance exams in January "as scheduled,” Hagiuda said.

He cited the low ratio of students who have caught the virus or developed severe symptoms to date, indicating schools have not been a significant source of infections, as a major factor behind his decision.

Hagiuda added that local governments that are in charge of public schools in their jurisdictions should be very careful before making any decision to close all schools under their watch.

Regarding the university entrance exam, the government’s panel of experts determined that the risk of infection was low compared to other events that draw a large number of people, Hagiuda pointed out.

Preparations were also being made to hold the exam even if it meant changing the dates because of unforeseen circumstance that prevented it being held as  scheduled, Hagiuda said later during a session of the Lower House Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Committee.

Related News