Schools reopen after unprecedentedly long break

Elementary and high-school pupils in 30 localities came back to chool from late April while primary schools and kindergartens were allowed to resume today.

Ten other localities including Ha Noi and HCMC decided to extend closure of primary schools and kindergartens.

Most of local schoolsmade use ofthe National Reunification Day and May Day holiday from April 30 to May 3 to disinfect classrooms and their campuses, prepare face masks for students, and install more hand wash basins.

Many schools rearranged more desks while others had to consider dividing classes into smaller ones to ensure the safe distance of one meter among students.

On April 23, the Ministry of Education and Trainingissued guidelines forensuringCOVID-19 prevention and control at educational establishments.Accordingly, students will return to school only when they fulfill more than sevencriteria, including preparing necessaryfacilities, namely thermometers to check temperatures, soaporsanitizer.

Before class, both students and teachers will have their temperature checked and have to wear face masks and keep a safe distance from each other in class.

Classes, learning equipment and vehicles should be cleaned as recommended by the health sector.

The schools must co-operate with local authorities and students' families to ensure safe distance when students were taken to school and picked up later.

More than 22 millions students around the country have had a long break since early February due to COVID-19.