'No matter how difficult the circumstances, we will not let students in flood-affected areas drop out of school.'

Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha reiterated this message several times during his working trip yesterday, October 23rd, to inspect the situation regarding the impact of storm and flood damage on teaching and learning in the central provinces.

Speaking with provincial leaders, industry leaders, and teachers in Quang Binh province on the morning of October 23, Mr. Nha said that the recent storm and flood incident caused very serious consequences for the people, especially teachers in schools in Quang Binh province in particular and the Central provinces in general.

Therefore, the Ministry of Education's delegation's visit to the central provinces this time is primarily to inspect and survey the situation regarding the aftermath of the storms and floods on teaching and learning in schools, and to coordinate with local authorities to implement measures to ensure that students, no matter how difficult the circumstances, do not drop out of school.

Minister Phung Xuan Nha visited and encouraged students at Dai Phong Primary School (Le Thuy, Quang Binh).

According to a report from the Quang Binh Department of Education and Training, the recent floods from October 13-15 caused serious damage to both people and property in the province's education sector. Eight students from all levels of education died. Damage to school facilities and classrooms is estimated at 105 billion VND, along with a large amount of teaching equipment, books, and other learning materials belonging to teachers and students.

In Quang Tri province, according to a report from the local Department of Education and Training, the total damage to the education sector amounted to 3.33 billion VND. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Meanwhile, in Ha Tinh province, the entire education sector suffered losses of 11.2 billion VND, with Huong Khe district alone suffering the heaviest losses (7.7 billion VND). More than 300 schools, from preschool to high school, were flooded.

Minister Phung Xuan Nha stated that, in order to mitigate the consequences of the floods on the education sector, local education departments and offices need to review the entire curriculum that students missed for more than a week due to the storm and floods. They should then develop a specific plan for students to make up missed lessons, ensuring no classes are lost, but also avoiding overloading the curriculum.

Regarding learning conditions, school supplies, and textbooks, Mr. Nha stated that it is necessary to create conditions for students to attend school regularly. Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training has launched a nationwide campaign for all educational institutions to donate books, clothes, bags, and teaching equipment to support people in Central Vietnam.

Mr. Nha also directed the Departments of Education and Training in localities to compile statistics on the difficulties students face regarding textbooks and teaching equipment, especially in areas where books were flooded or damaged by heavy rains, in order to provide students with sufficient textbooks and prevent any shortages.

Furthermore, Mr. Nha also stated that one of the most important issues after the floods is sanitation and disease prevention. Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Training has instructed medical schools under its jurisdiction to visit flood-affected areas to conduct health check-ups, provide treatment, and prevent diseases for students so that they can soon return to normal studies.

Minister Phung Xuan Nha visited and offered condolences to the family of Tran Ngoc Hao, a 9th-grade student at Gia Minh Secondary School (Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province) who tragically lost his life in the recent storms and floods.

"We will work with local leaders and discuss solutions to ensure that, no matter how difficult the circumstances, students do not drop out of school, and teachers are not put in an overly difficult situation in their work," Minister Nha affirmed.

Accordingly, Mr. Nha stated that he would propose to the leaders of local education departments to instill in families and students the spirit of not abandoning their families, and to pay attention to difficult cases and those who faced risks during the recent storms and floods.

"We will also work with provincial leaders to develop policies on tuition fees, scholarships, and direct support for disadvantaged families. We will strive to ensure that children do not drop out of school due to economic difficulties," Mr. Nha said.

Regarding teachers in areas affected by the recent storms and floods, Mr. Nha also said that he deeply sympathizes with them because in areas that were already facing difficulties, the situation became even more challenging when storms and floods occurred.

However, the head of education also hopes that teachers in flood-affected areas will strive to overcome difficulties with the spirit of a dedicated educator, wholeheartedly devoted to their students.

Regarding localities severely damaged in terms of school infrastructure, Mr. Nha stated that the task of reinforcing school buildings falls under the authority of the province. However, the Ministry of Education and Training will also coordinate to consolidate schools that do not meet the necessary conditions for children to study.

"Going forward, the Ministry of Education and Training will prioritize a number of disadvantaged provinces in Central Vietnam to address the issue of makeshift classrooms made of bamboo and thatch that do not meet safety standards for students during floods. This will ensure the safety of students when they return to school," Mr. Nha affirmed.

In the immediate future, Mr. Nha instructed local education departments affected by the recent storms and floods to provide facilities in communes and districts where students can study, creating all possible conditions for them to return to school.

Later that same day, the delegation from the Ministry of Education also inspected and visited educational institutions damaged by the recent floods in the provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Ha Tinh.

During this period, the Ministry of Education and Training also donated nearly 1.5 billion VND along with many books, school bags, and teaching equipment to 5 central provinces that suffered severe consequences from the recent storms and floods. This money and material were donated from the fundraising campaign to support the central region, launched by Minister Phung Xuan Nha.

According to Vietnamnet