HCMC – Some 3 million students of all grades, including more than 1.4 million kindergarteners, had to leave their in-person classes and return to online learning as the country continues to witness a surge in new Covid infections.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, as of February 21, nearly 50 cities and provinces nationwide had reopened schools for kindergarteners, helping 1.8 million children (55.31%) return to their in-person classes. However, 14 localities, comprising Hanoi, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Dak Nong, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Danang, Hung Yen, Tra Vinh, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Phu Yen and Daklak, had to suspend in-person classes for kindergarteners due to the complicated Covid situation.
Besides, approximately 785,000 primary students (13%) in Hanoi, Daklak, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Hung Yen, Dak Nong, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Quang Ninh were forced to shun their in-person classes and return to online learning.
For high school students, the provinces of Phu Tho, Lao Cai and Vinh Phuc required them to turn to online learning again. Twelve inner districts of Hanoi have not been able to reopen schools for sixth graders.
Moreover, hundreds of thousands of students in many northern localities have been told to stay at home as temperatures dropped to below 10 degrees Celsius.
Yen Bai Province has closed 70 kindergartens, seven primary schools and 11 high schools until the cold spell ends. In Hanoi, more than 455,000 primary students in 18 districts have been allowed to stay at home.
Over 17 million students across the country returned to school on February 7 after the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, and the year-long school closure due to the Covid pandemic.
However, recent complicated developments of the pandemic have significantly affected the reopening of schools.
