The Education, Science and Technology Ministry has asked schools to use prudence when deciding whether to temporary close their facilities due to a fear of radioactive rain.

The ministry sent documents to city and provincial education offices on Thursday, asking the offices to persuade closing schools to use reliable data when reaching such a conclusion.

A ministry official said that some schools are canceling classes even though the radiation levels detected in South Korea are negligible.

A total of 126 kindergartens, elementary and middles schools in Gyeonggi Province canceled classes on Thursday, while 15 schools in North Jeolla Province canceled or shortened classes due to rising concerns on the safety of radiation exposure.