Hanoi authorities attend the opening ceremony of the new school year at Trung Vuong upper secondary school.

The 2021-2022 school year takes place at a time when the fresh COVID-19 outbreak is ravaging a large number of cities and provinces across Vietnam, dealing a heavy blow to business production and social affairs, including education. Many localities have closed schools due to rising COVID-19 threats.

As of September 5, 45 localities nationwide have decided to hold the opening ceremony of the new school year either physically or online, while the remaining 18 localities have cancelled or delayed the opening date, giving priority to pandemic prevention and ensuring students’ safety.

In Hanoi capital, the opening ceremony took place physically at Trung Vuong upper secondary school and it was broadcast live on Hanoi Television. All delegates, teachers and students had passed a COVID-19 test one day before coming to the event.

Teachers and students of other schools were required to watch the live broadcast and then begin the new school year online.

Hanoi has recently decided to extend its social distancing order in 15 districts for another two weeks as the COVID-19 outbreak remains complicated, with dozens of new cases recorded every day.

Bac Giang province, one of Hanoi’s neighbours and a former coronavirus hotspot, has permitted teachers and students to attend the opening ceremony of the new school year in person.

Schools had mobilized its employees to clean floors, doorknobs, tables and chairs, as well as teaching equipment with disinfectants and detergents before the ceremony was held.

Students were required to keep a safe distance at the opening ceremony that took place in less than an hour.

In the central region, nearly 200,000 students of all grades attended the opening ceremony of the new school year online.

Inside a conference hall of Luong Van Chanh upper secondary school, only 10 teachers and students took part in a special ceremony that was live streamed on the school’s facebook. On September 6, all students will begin their new school year via distancing learning apps.

Meanwhile, a large number of southern localities, including Ho Chi Minh City – the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam – have decided not to hold the opening ceremony of the new school year due to COVID-19 threats.

Source: VOV

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