Covid-19: Students nationwide suggested to return to school in early March

ABO/NDO – Allowing students nationwide to go back to school in early March is appropriate and feasible amidst Vietnam controlling the spread of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Delegates at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on February 22, 2020. (Photo: VGP).

The suggestion was made during a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on February 22, discussing the time for students to return to school after long-term absence due to the coronavirus outbreak.

At the meeting, representatives from the relevant ministries and agencies stressed that medical safety measures in schools to prevent the epidemic from spreading must be ensured when allowing students to return to school, such as offering them soap and antibacterial hand-washing liquid.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also the head of the committee, affirmed that Vietnam has controlled the epidemic well, with synchronous solutions having been implemented to control people at risk of infection and timely detect, isolate and provide treatment for those infected with Covid-19.

In the face of complicated movements of the coronavirus outbreak in other countries, the deputy PM asked the concerned authorities and localities not to be subjective while continuing to strictly implement the guidance from the Secretariat, the Prime Minister and the health sector on disease prevention and control.

As students have been off from school for nearly one month, the Ministries of Education and Training (MoET) and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs should soon make an official decision on adjusting the current 2019-2020 school year schedule. In case the two ministries do not reach any decision, the Prime Minister will make the final decision to serve as a basis for provinces and cities nationwide to implement.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam speaks at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on February 22, 2020. (Photo: VGP)

Localities must review the implementation of professional requirements to ensure hygiene and safety at local schools. It is important to ensure that schools reopen with a safer environment than in any State agencies, Deputy PM Dam stated.

* On Saturday (February 22) afternoon, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do informed that his ministry has agreed to set the closure of the current academic year on June 30, instead of May 31 as previously planned.

Meanwhile, the national high school graduation exams is expected to take place from July 23 to 26.

Early next week, the MoET will issue a formal decision on the 2019-20 school year schedule adjustment, Do informed.

(Source: NDO)