Amid the encouraging fact that the COVID-19 pandemic in Da Nang has been brought under control, the municipal administration will take precautious steps to make pupils return back to school for on-campus education with keeping educational staff and pupils safe the top priority.

It is expected that schools in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District and the Le Quy Don Senior High School for the Gifted will resume operations first on October 18 and 25, respectively.

As noted, the municipal educational sector has given a nod to the back-to-school in Hoa Bac Commune, citing some difficulties in running online learning for pupils in this mountainous area as the main reason for this decision.

Mr. Pham Minh Vu, the Principal of Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School in Hoa Bac Commune said that amongst the pupils, 65 are the children of Co Tu ethnic minority people in the mountainous villages of Ta Lang and Gian Bi.

Many students will difficult circumstances find it difficult to access virtual classes due to their shortage of schooling supportive devices and tools. Therefore, the school recommended that the ninth graders will be allowed to return to school first, followed by those in the sixth grade.

In a similar vein, the first graders of the Hoa Bac Primary School will come back to school first, then the second graders. The school’ managing board will build up the reasonable timetable and safety measures against COVID-19 with flexible adaptation to   the new normal.

In particular, heed will be paid to firmly grasping the list of pupils’ parents who are currently working as workers in industrial parks which are at a potential risk of COVID-19 to be proactive in handling any unexpected incidents.

Ms. Pham Ho Quynh Trang, Head of Hoa Vang District Education and Training Office, said that, depending on the actual situation, Hoa Bac is the only one commune in Hoa Vang District to be allowed to resume on-campus schooling.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Vinh, the Principal of Le Quy Don Senior High School for the Gifted, said that its twelfth-graders will go back to school for face-to-face education in preparation for national exams for excellent pupils and the national senior high school graduation exam as well.

“The school has prepared all necessary conditions to be ready to welcome pupils back to school with a heed to ensuring the strict practice of COVID-19 preventive rules based on the guidance of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for secondary and higher education institutions on the responsibilities of parents and pupils. It is expected that on October 18, Year 12 pupils will return to school.

Addressing a meeting held on the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on October 12, Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Le Trung Chinh directed the Department of Education and Training to advise on a plan for pupils’ comebacks to school. Those in the coronavirus-free areas and in the higher grades shall be allowed to come back to school first.

Reporting by HA THU - Translating by A.THU