All students in Ho Chi Minh City have been allowed to go back to school in early March as the COVID-19 pandemic has been put under control again in the southern metropolis.

The municipal People’s Committee on Wednesday issued a document stating that students and learners of local schools, universities, and other educational institutions will resume their normal classes on March 1.

The city’s Department of Education and Training and Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs will provide local schools with guidance on pandemic prevention and control measures.

Students who have been to virus-hit areas will be required to fill out health declaration forms.

Stern penalties will be imposed upon those failing to declare their health status or violating rules on COVID-19 prevention and control.

All students, teachers, and other staff members will have to complete online health declaration on a daily basis.

Following the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February, all students were required to switch to remote learning until the end of the month due to the complicated COVID-19 developments.

The city recorded 36 community-based COVID-19 cases between February 6 and 11.

A total of 35 locations in 10 districts and Thu Duc City were sealed off to prevent the disease from spreading further into the community.

As of Tuesday afternoon, lockdown had been lifted from all of these locations.

The municipal Department of Education and Training on the same day proposed that all students be allowed to return to school on March 1.

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KARACHI: The announcement  of reopening of schools for five days a week  by Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood has  sparked yet another meme storm on the internet.

The minister, perhaps the most closely-followed individual on Pakistani Twitter due to the school lockdowns enforced by the government owing to the coronavirus pandemic, on Thursday signaled a return to normal after almost a year of closures or sketchy operations.

Following the announcement, the Shafqat Mahmood Twitter fan club responded with what it does best: hilarious memes.

Here’s what students are saying over the latest announcement:

In a statement issued on Twitter, the federal education minister said that all schools will go back to regular 5-day classes from Monday, March 1.

“Restrictions imposed in some major cities on schools to conduct staggered classes was only till Feb 28,” he added.

The minister said that the announcement will be applicable to all education institutes.

Students who keep a keen eye on Mahmood’s Twitter account have frequently followed his announcements with hilarious and often overblown reaction memes.

They built him up as their hero when he announced school closures, and are now calling him out for his ‘betrayal’ after he’s made clear it’s time for students to get back to their studies.

A health worker sprays disinfectants at Nguyen Du High School in HCM City’s District 10. — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Huong

Hanoi could reopen schools on Tuesday (March 2) if the COVID-19 situation is under control (March 2 will be the date marking 14 days of no local infections), according to municipal authorities.

The HCM City People’s Committee on Wednesday approved the Department of Education and Training’s proposal to reopen on Monday since the recent COVID-19 outbreak has been well controlled.

The department said most parents want their children to go to school.

To prepare for the reopening, the administration has called for disinfecting schools and adopting preventive measures.

This week the department will ensure these tasks are undertaken at all schools.

It also has instructed schools to ensure their students follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: Khẩu trang (face mask) – Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gathering) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration).

Since February 2 the department has ordered schools to report about students with COVID-19, F1 people who come into contact with patients and F2 people who have close contact with F1. The parents of all students also need to fill out online health declarations for the latter.

As of February 19 one student had contracted the disease, 74 teachers and students were designated F1 and 361 teachers and students were F2.

Besides, 2,680 teachers and students returned to the city from COVID-19-hit areas around the country after Tet.

On February 1 the People’s Committee had instructed all relevant agencies and educational establishments to allow students to remain at home after the Tet holiday and study online until the end of this month.

Teachers at public primary schools make lessons and upload them on YouTube or the school website for students.

First and second graders are learning with their parents’ assistance.

Older children are taught on zoom and other software.

Speaking at a meeting between the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and relevant ministries held on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh said 51 provinces and cities had already reopened schools.

Seven provinces and cities, including Hai Duong, the COVID-19 epicenter, would reopen them on Monday while the remaining four have not announced the schedule, she said.

The education ministry has instructed authorities in all provinces and cities to strictly comply with measures to ensure safety and hygiene at schools and strengthen communication to reassure parents as their children return to school, she added.

Schools have been told to disinfect everything from the campus to tables, chairs and teaching devices, and have enough soaps and hand sanitizers for students.

Students should use their own water bottles and wear masks when going to school.

Schools should limit mass gathering and organise outdoor activities.

Universities

Many universities across the country will also have online classes until the end of this month.

Some such as the University of Information Technology under the Vietnam National University- HCM City (VNUHCM) will begin their second semester on Monday but students will learn online until March 14. The first semester examination will be delayed until April.

The VNUHCM’s University of Science will hold this examination next month instead of this week as scheduled.

Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine has students will study online until March end. VNS