By Lee Kyung-min
The government will set up a comprehensive negotiating body to devise measures to raise awareness of fine dust, it said Thursday. Additional facilities will also be set up to encourage indoor physical activities to limit outdoor sessions amid the poor air quality.
The Ministry of Education unveiled a set of measures to effectively tackle the growing health threats caused by fine dust, a problem increasingly affecting young, still developing students who are more vulnerable to the health risks than adults.
The move followed repeated calls from the students and their parents on the need for educating students early about what could have long-term consequences on human respiratory function.
The group, comprised of officials from the ministry and education offices nationwide, as well as environmental and education experts, will be launched as early as next month.
The group will discuss ways to effectively take preventative measures against fine dust and conduct studies to assess indoor air quality.
The ministry will increase a number of training sessions for school faculty members about the harmful effects of being subject to the fine dust without any precautions.
The ministry will designate a certain number of schools that will set up study groups to study and compile long-term reports on the subject.