Vietnam: 23 million students begin new school year amid COVID-19

Hoang Liet Primary School begins the new school year

In the 2020-2021 academic year, the education sector applies a new curriculum for first graders, while making preparations to gradually move classes towards the new education targets of improving the capacity and virtue of students.

In Hanoi, there are about 2,800 schools with over 2.1 million students in the new school year, an increase of 68,000 from the previous year. Hanoi plans to have an additional 44 schools, six of which have already been put into operation while 38 others will be completed within the school year.

Vuong Dinh Hue, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee, beat the drum to begin the 2020-2021 school year at Giang Vo Secondary School in Hanoi

Schools also held shorter ceremonies to begin the term to prevent the spread of the pandemic. To prevent a virus outbreak, only a few representatives of classes were required to attend their schools' welcoming ceremony.

Hoang Liet Primary School has made thorough preparations to welcome new first graders and to prevent the pandemic. The school was surrounded with flags and flowers, overwhelmed by the smiles and radiant faces of pupils.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, who is the form teacher of a Grade 1 class at Hoang Liet Primary School, told VIR that she was moved by welcoming the new term as this school year is special for her and her colleagues. They promised to work extra hard to fulfil the new education targets and prevent and fight the deadly virus.

“I will try my best to accompany my pupils and give them the best in these special circumstances,” she noted.

In Ho Chi Minh City, about 1.74 million pupils and students started the new school year on the same day, 54,645 more than in the previous school year.

Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh beat the drum to begin the 2020-2021 school year at Le Quy Don High School in Ho Chi Minh City

In Danang, the municipal Department of Education and Training organised an online welcoming ceremony to prevent the pandemic and get students excited for the new school year.

Despite the challenges ahead, the education and training sector is pinning high hopes on the new academic year with stronger efforts to reach new achievements, improving the country’s quality of human resources and promoting socioeconomic development amid increasing global integration.