More than 12,700 candidates across Da Nang will sit for the national high school graduation examination on July 7-8.  Progress is being made in the preparation of the upcoming examination with proper precautions in place amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Relevant agencies are gearing up preparations for the examinations in order to ensure the safety of test takers and staff at exam venues, and the smooth running of the examination.

A medical worker takes swab samples of an invigilator to test for the virus at a testing site in the Ngu Hanh Son High School. Photo: NGOC HA

The health agency has worked with the municipal Department of Education and Training to conduct COVID-19 tests on July 4-5 on nearly 16,400 people who are test takers, exams officers and other staff involved in exam delivery. All swab samples of these people have been sent to the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to test for the virus. The Da Nang CDC will perform a 'pooled test' with samples of up to 10 people in order to save time and resources. If pooled sample is positive all individual samples in that “pool” group are tested. If the pooled sample is negative assume all samples within the pool are negative. Their test results are expected to be ready soonest.

All necessary measures taken to ensure the safety of test takers

A combined total of 12,716 candidates in Da Nang have been registered to sit for this year’s national high school graduation examination while more than 3,600 people will be on duty at 31 exam venues.

The examination will be held in the city with strict virus-prevention measures in place in order to ensure candidates’ adherence to precautionary measures and preventive guidelines against COVID-19 to protect themselves and others, including wearing a face mask, having their body temperature measured, disinfecting their hands, and keeping a safe distance from others.

A special exam venue with 12 rooms at the Vo Chi Cong Senior High School in Ngu Hanh Son District is already prepared for primary and secondary COVID contacts with strictest health measures in place. Disinfectant sprays for the prevention of COVID-19 will be carried out in this venue by local workers before and after exams. The COVID contacts will be transported to and from their exam centre. They will have their body temperature checked, their hands disinfected, and use a new medical mask before entering their exam rooms. Primary and secondary COVID contacts will be arranged to sit different rooms with no more than 12 candidates per exam room.

Mr. Tran Nguyen Minh Thanh, the Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, said that there will be 39 primary and secondary COVID contacts in Da Nang to sit for the examination while only one COVID-19 case will attend the second phase of examinations to be conducted for those who could not attend the exam during the first phase. All necessary measures will be taken to help the COVID contacts sit their exams safely and securely.

Test takers get tested for COVID-19 at a testing site in the Phan Chau Trinh High School. (Picture taken on July 4). Photo: NGOC HA

Follow strict COVID-19 safety guidelines to help prevent spread of the virus

Deputy Director Thanh affirmed that enough precautions have been taken for the smooth conduct of the examination in line with the strict COVID-19 safety guidelines from the Da Nang government.

Medical workers will be available at all exam venues to provide help whenever needed during the exams.

The Da Nang Power Company has assured that there will be no power cuts affecting 31 exam venues.

Police officers will be deployed across the city, at the exam venues and their surroundings in order to provide regular traffic enforcement to reduce traffic congestion, and ensure the safety and security during the exams.

The Da Nang government has announced that all types of trucks carrying soil, stones, sand or construction materials will be banned from running on streets during the examination.

The examination will take place on July 7 and 8 in Da Nang.

On July 6, all candidates will be present at 2pm at their test sites, and they will be presented with exam rules/regulations and instructions.

On July 7, the candidates will sit for Literature and Mathematics tests, which start at 7.30am and 2.20pm, respectively.

On July 8, the students will sit their tests in the natural sciences or social sciences, and foreign language test, which start at 7.30am and 2.20pm, respectively.
 

Reporting by NGOC HA – Translating by H.L