PM asks education ministry for school reopening timeline

Grade 12 students at Đỗ Công Tường High School, Cao Lãnh City, along with students of the same grade in the Mekong Delta Province of Đồng Tháp, returned for in-person learning on January 17, 2022. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo Nhựt An

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked the Ministry of Education and Training to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to hold a nationwide teleconference collecting feedback on a detailed roadmap to re-open schools and educational establishments nationwide.

Its results and proposals must be reported to Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam, who is usually in charge of education and culture.

The move part of the PM’s conclusions at a meeting of permanent Government members in Hà Nội held last week.

Nearly 20 million pupils and students in the country have been forced to suspend going to school and switch to online learning for many months since the emergence of the severe fourth wave of the virus hit the country in late April last year. Over 70,000 students also failed to graduate, affecting education and training.

The Government leader said he was particularly concerned and understood the difficulties that students and teachers faced during online learning.

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

The health ministry will hold a scientific seminar acquiring the experience of countries and the World Health Organization to report to authorities about vaccination for children aged 5-11.

Health minister Nguyễn Thanh Long earlier said that Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 shots, currently being offered to children from 12 to 17 years old, were being considered for the younger age group.

So far, 14.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to the 12-17 age group, including 6.6 million second doses. — VnExpress News