Implementing the tasks of education and the epidemic prevention and control: “Dual tasks” in the school year 2020-2021

(LSO) – After more than a month of the short summer vacation, together with students nationwide, students in the province are preparing to enter the new school year 2020-2021. The opening day of this year will be held briefly and solemnly with safety by schools, with a determination to overcome difficulties to well perform educational tasks.

 Amid the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, in order to prepare for the new school year, Ministry of Education and Training sent a document to Departments of Education and Training in provinces and cities on implementing some activities at the beginning of the school year 2020-2021. Accordingly, the Ministry agreed the back-to-school time in early September and the new school year opening ceremony on September 5. As for the education sector in the whole country in general and that of Lang Son province in particular, there is no back-to-school season as special as this school year. Because along with the opening ceremony, schools must simultaneously deploy two tasks: education and the epidemic prevention and control for staff, teachers, students. Compared with the previous opening days, in addition to new bags and clothes, the students’ luggage this year includes an indispensable item, which is a face mask.

Medical officers sprayed disinfectant at Hoang Van Thu High School, Lang Son City

Mrs. Nguyen Thanh Hang, Chi Lang ward, Lang Son city shared that her family has two children who are studying at primary and secondary schools. Before she lets her children go to the new school year opening ceremony, she will have to ask them to wear a face mask in crowded places, wash their hands often. She has also prepared face masks, hand sanitizer for her children, instructed her children to how use them. At the same time, students’ parents were also informed by teachers about the school’s epidemic prevention  measures, so she feels more secure.

To ensure epidemic-free safety, Department of Education and Training has required schools to clean, spray disinfectants, prepare enough disinfectant liquid, thermometers to check students’ health before the opening ceremony; 100% of delegates, staff, teachers, pupils and students will use face masks when going to school; preparing online teaching plans suitable to local conditions and units to prevent the complicated developments of the epidemic.

On the basis of the direction of Department of Education and Training, schools in the province have seriously implemented epidemic prevention measures. Mrs. Vu Thi Quyen, Principal of Chi Lang Primary School, Lang Son city, said that since the end of August, the school has cooperated with specialized agencies to spray disinfectant. On the first day of school on September 1, the school reminded parents of students not to gather outside the school gate when taking their children to school. Along with that, the opening ceremony will be held briefly, students will sit with the distancing to meet the requirements of the epidemic prevention and control.

To ensure the opening ceremony taking place safely and solemnly, Department of Education and Training has documents to guide on the preparation for the new school year opening ceremony on September 5 and the implementation of the tasks for the 2020-2021 school year. Accordingly, to ensure the Covid-19 prevention and control for staff and students, the 2020-2021 school year opening ceremony will only be held with the ceremony part with the following contents: welcoming new students, saluting the flag, singing the national song, welcoming address, introducing delegates, reading the letter from the State President, making an opening speech (briefly), beating the drum to open the new school year and leaders’ speech (if any), launching good teaching and learning emulation. In addition, in the ceremony, rituals such as receiving emulation flags, recognizing schools meeting national standards and so on can be performed.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Tuan, Acting Director of Department of Education and Training, said that along with the opening ceremony, the Department also directed schools to continue measuring temperature at the beginning of each session, staff, teachers, students must wear face masks outside classrooms, wash their hands often with soap or antiseptic liquids. During the time when students are studying, health workers will coordinate with teachers to monitor their health, detect and promptly handle cases of fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and make a monitoring book. Schools that organize daily boarding meals for students must ensure food hygiene and safety in the kitchen.

The new school year 2020 – 2021 is about to begin with many special features. With the spirit and responsibility of the education and training sector, the determination of teachers, students’ parents and students and the community’s cooperation, it is believed that Lang Son will have a safe new school year opening ceremony and well perform the proposed tasks of the school year 2020-2021.