Minister suggests considering school reopening hinh anh 1As of January 18, 14 cities and provinces across the country allowed students at all grades to return to school. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – It is time to consider school reopening in a safe manner in line with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s instructions on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son told an online seminar on January 19.

The minister pointed out favourable conditions like high vaccination coverage and improvements in the pandemic combat, in terms of treatment drugs, infrastructure, public awareness and experience.

Online learning that has been utilised over the past more than two years due to COVID-19 would affect the quality of teaching and learning, children’s psychophysiology as well as socio-economic activities, among others, Son said.

He asked localities to raise their opinions and views, and take actions to soon reopen schools in the new situation.

It was reported that as of January 18, 14 cities and provinces across the country allowed students at all grades to return to school. Nineteen localities applied full online learning via the internet and television. Thirty others combined online learning and in-person formats.

As of January 15, 90.1 percent of students aged from 12-17 got the first shot of COVID-19 vaccines, and 72.24 percent received the second dose. Meanwhile, 82 percent of teachers and education managers were given the second jab, and 28.2 percent got the third shot.

The ministry has suggested localities reopen schools in the new normal to contribute to economic recovery and social stability.

Municipal and provincial People’s Committees need to get updates on the pandemic situation to decide school reopening in accordance with relevant regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, it said./.
VNA