The education ministry on Friday sent notices to boards of education nationwide asking them to temporarily close elementary, junior high and high schools from March 2 until spring break to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
"The government judged it is crucial to respond proactively to slow the spread of infection," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, seeking understanding for the decision during a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting Friday. "In the end, the government is taking full responsibility for this decision that we consider must be made."
Abe will hold a press conference on Saturday to explain a series of government responses.
"The duration and enforcement of the temporary closure may vary according to the actual situation of local communities and schools. We also hope to devise and implement a system to make sure that there will not be a significant delay in the students' education," Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Koichi Hagiuda stressed at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting Friday.
"We ask for everyone's cooperation in making sure students do not leave the house unless it is urgent or absolutely necessary," he said.
The ministry sent the announcement to the heads of prefectural boards of education and prefectural governors, signed by Vice Minister Makoto Fujiwara. The ministry called for the entities that established the elementary, junior high, high schools and special-needs schools to temporarily close their institutions from March 2 until the beginning of spring break.
"We do not wish to undermine the establishing entities of those institutions, so the final decision for the duration and enforcement of the temporary closure for each school will be made by them," he added.
The ministry is also asking the entities to have students stay home if the schools are closed, and said that a flexible response is required to decide whether students can successfully finish their courses and graduate, so as not to be treated unfairly.
The government is currently considering a system to compensate those who will be affected by the school closures. For example, when parents and family members need to get a day off to look after their children, the government would ask companies to treat it as a paid holiday.
"Small and medium-sized companies may face management difficulties. Part-time employees will see a decrease in their salary if they take days off. The government is also considering various ways to compensate these people as well," Abe said at the lower house committee meeting, revealing that the government is seeking cooperation with business circles regarding paid holidays.
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