Gov't to Install Air-purifying Systems At More Schools Earlier

By Kim Hyun-bin

The government will install more air-purification systems at schools earlier than planned amid worsening fine dust-sparked air pollution, the education ministry said Sunday.

The Ministry of Education initially planned to install the units at all kindergartens and elementary and special-education schools by 2020, but on Friday it revised the plan to allow more than 62,000 classrooms at middle and high schools also to have purification systems installed this year

According to the education ministry, there are 161,713 air-cleaning units in kindergarten, elementary and special-education classrooms.

This represents 79.8 percent of classrooms.

This year, the government plans to install the units in the remaining 53,500 classrooms nationwide.

In addition, 9,800 out of 12,250 schools without purification systems will have an air-cleaning system installed to better protect students with respiratory difficulties.

The government will send...