The continued heat wave and power shortage crisis in Korea has prompted education officials to shorten class hours or even, in some cases, postpone the start of the new semester.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on Tuesday sent a public notice to schools in the city, advising them to delay the beginning of the fall semester or reduce class hours because of the sizzling temperatures.

Accordingly, six schools, including Nowon High School, delayed the start of the new semester, while five others shortened class hours.

In Gyeonggi Province, 12 schools decided to postpone the start of the semester or temporarily close.  Some schools in Gangwon and North Chungcheong provinces, and Daegu and Daejeon also delayed the start of the semester.