Schools Shorten Classes Due to Heat Wave

In North Gyeongsang Province, one high school extended its summer vacation, and 19 secondary schools shortened classes in response to the relentless heat wave that is lingering across the nation.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development announced Monday that Pohang Marine Science High School has postponed the beginning of its second semester to August 27, and 14 middle schools and five high schools have shortened their school hours after the weather agency issued intense heat warnings for North Gyeongsang Province. This is the first time an opening of a school session has been delayed and school hours have been shortened due to a heat wave.

When the weather bureau issued a warning early Monday in some parts of Gyeongsang Province and Jeolla Province, the ministry posted the details of the warning on its website and sent text messages to relevant city and provincial education offices, asking them to seek ways to prevent possible heat-related accidents.

Monday’s measure was implemented in accordance to the “Plans to Run Schools during Excessive Heat,” blueprint that the ministry sent to schools and local education offices earlier this year.

The ministry, which decided to test run an intense heat warning system starting from this year, sent the blueprint in early July in an effort to prevent heat-related accidents at schools.

Electricity consumption reached 61,545,000 KW as of 3 p.m. Monday, the third highest level this year, according to the Korea Electric Power Corporation.

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