MoH and MoET back offline learning

Nguyen made the point on January 19 at a video-teleconference to discuss school reopening.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) reported that over 130,000 educational staffs, teachers, lecturers, and students were infected by the fourth wave of COVID-19 resurgence. As of January 18, only 4,800 cases are active.

Some localities which used to be the pandemic hotspots such as Ho Chi Minh City have reopened physical study.

After the trial phase, the southern metropolis detected only 130 positive cases at school, accounting for 0.02% of its total infections.

Pandemic-hit Bac Giang province reported only 0.009% of COVID-19 cases relating to educational staffs, teachers, and students.

The above exambples show that COVID-19 infection rate at schools is extremely low.

So far, only nine localities have resumed physical study namely Bac Kan, Cao bang, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Thai Binh, Ha Nam, Khanh Hoa, and Bac Giang.

Meanwhile, 35 others combined online and offline learning modals.

The MoET also suggested localities take drastic step to resume schools in 'new normalcy and close coordination between education and health sectors in order to craft detailed scenarios on school reopening and provide consultations for parents, students, and the community. 

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen reported that so far vaccination coverage has touched nearly 100% among the adult population. The MoH has planned to immunize children aged 5-11 in a bid to resume physical study in coming time.

Previously, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh tasked the two ministries to collect experts, scientists and localities' feedback on a detailed roadmap to re-opening schools and educational establishments nationwide.

The MoET was also required to work with the Ministry of Information and Communications and press agencies to raise public awareness and create public consensus on safe re-opening of schools, instruct localities to allow pupils aged above 12 to go to school following the Lunar New Year festival as soon as possible, especially in those with high vaccination rate for children aged 12-17./.