The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, made a sudden request to shut down all schools in Japan. Criticism and disappointments followed. (Image via Euronews)

What's the reason behind Abe's call to close schools?

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
News Flash Japan
Feb 29, 2020
1945
On Thursday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, suddenly requested all of the schools in Japan to be closed from next week all the way to early April. The abrupt request confused the nation and angered the bureaucrats. The request also came as the Prime Minister had been under fire for delayed response to tackle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a meeting with a government task force for COVID-19, Abe revealed the government’s plan to shut down elementary, junior high, and senior high schools in Japan from Monday next week to the end of the spring break in early April.

Japan’s Minister of Education, Koichi Hagiuda, stated that the children’s health and safety is Japan’s top priority, and required them to stay indoors.

The problem is that the abrupt response was a reversal from the government policy adopted earlier this week. An education ministry official speculated that Abe wanted to “boast” his leadership as he is being politically cornered.

It was apparently made without coordination with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

The prove? Many officials were stunned by the sudden reports. They could not believe that the government abruptly asked the schools to be closed without any consideration about the children’s health. Even the non-oppositional force called out Abe’s decision, saying that it would lead Japan’s society to worse turmoil.

As it would be difficult for medical institutions to take care of the children at home, Mayor of Chiba, Toshihito Kumagai, said that the policy would “break down” the Japanese society. So, he considered allowing children, especially younger children and children with disabilities, to stay at school with necessary countermeasures should their parents could not take care of them at home.

Undoubtedly, the opposition forces quickly took the advantage to criticize Abe’s lax response. Moreover, the public is now made confused by the abrupt policy, knowing not how to deal with it.

While Abe’s political power, aiming to last until September 2021, remains firm as there are no prominent challengers, public support for his reign has fallen amid the growing outbreak of the COVID-19. Moreover, the world is doubting Japan’s feasibility to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics although the government said no “contingency” plans to cancel nor move the venues.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Prb0aj

Politics , Scandal , Government , Regulation , Policy , Medical , Health , Disease , Outbreak , Pulmonary , Pneumonia , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Asia , Japan , Shinzo-Abe , Education , School