Do on February 5 told the press that the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has asked local education departments to instruct schools to come up with plans to teach and make up the days off.

Students in 61 out of 63 cities/provinces, except Nghe An and Ben Tre, are not attending school for the fear of the spread of the coronavirus.

Students in the cities/provinces are scheduled to return to school on February 10. However, the days off may be extended in some localities.

The HCM City Education and Training Department is seeking permission from the municipal authorities for one more week off to prevent the spread of nCoV.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said Vietnam may extend the ending time of the 2019-2020 academic year if the epidemic lasts for many days.

Hanoi and Da Nang are also considering to close schools for one more week.

Regarding the plan on teaching students to make up time lost, schools can organize classes in the time after learning hours, on Saturday and Sunday, and use the buffer week to adjust the teaching schedules.

If necessary, the academic year may end later than initially planned. In principle, the academic year will finish by May 31.

Under the initial plan, the work of considering and recognizing the fulfilment of primary and secondary education will be completed by June 15. However, if necessary, the deadline would be extended by 10 days.

Regarding the national high school finals, Do said there would be no change because it would be organized in late June.

Do said provincial authorities have the right to decide whether to allow students to continue stay at home, depending on the recommendations of healthcare agencies.

“MOET gives priority to ensuring the health of students. Everyone needs to be calm and alert. If the epidemic is put under control, students can return to school,” he said.

MOET has asked schools to be ready to receive students with the best school conditions and disease prevention plans. Students must wear protective masks and wash hands before entering class, after breaks and after having lunch.

On February 1, soon after the Prime Minister signed a decision declaring the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) an epidemic in Vietnam, MOET sent a report about the implementation of the measures in the education sector.

Chi Mai 

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