Nghe An: Exposing shortcomings in the first days of implementing social distancing in the classroom

Divide and merge

Ky Son is one of the districts that strictly implemented social distancing after allowing students to return to school. Accordingly, to ensure safety according to regulations and in accordance with the characteristics of a district with 18/19 secondary schools being boarding schools, the district has adjusted the school schedule with grades 8 and 9 studying on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays and grades 6 and 7 studying on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Students of all grades are also not concentrated in one class but are divided into 2, studying both morning and afternoon.

To implement social distancing, many schools have used meeting rooms as classrooms for students. Photo: My Ha

At the time of implementation, this solution was considered effective in social distancing because the class size was reduced from 30-35 students/class to half. However, after only a few days of implementation, shortcomings were revealed when teachers had to double the number of periods prescribed. Meanwhile, there was no mechanism to support teachers in working overtime. Currently, this plan has had to be adjusted and all classes in Ky Son have returned to their original starting point. Perhaps, schools have adjusted their social distancing plans such as rearranging desks and chairs or adding more desks in classes with larger numbers.

Nghia Dan district has also piloted the separation of classes at all levels. In the early days, with the spirit of “one person doing the work of two”, teachers participated quite actively. However, with the nature of the teaching profession, standing on the podium and speaking continuously for 8-9 periods/day is too much for teachers.

Large class sizes are a pressure for primary schools in implementing social distancing. Photo: My Ha

Parents please do not social distance

This unusual incident happened in Vinh city, one day before primary school students returned to school. The incident stemmed from information that many primary schools in the city were planning to separate classes. However, instead of dividing the classes in half, the schools planned to draw lots or cut each class into 4-6 children in order to form a new class. And parents had reason to object because to them, this would affect the children's psychology, they would not want to go to school and affect the quality of their studies.

After the above reactions, many schools have adjusted by moving to functional rooms or adding more tables and chairs. The leader of the Vinh City Department of Education and Training also said: Social distancing is a temporary solution and the schools themselves do not want it. Therefore, in the near future, schools will implement it for 1 to 2 weeks and if the Covid-19 epidemic situation is well controlled as it is now, the department will ask the Department of Education and Training for schools to reorganize teaching and learning as before and possibly return to teaching 2 sessions/day.

Classroom at Huynh Thuc Khang High School. Photo: My Ha

A principal of a central school in Vinh city confided: After 1 week of social distancing, we will let students return to their original state. Because the social distancing plan in the classroom is not effective because if students from each class are separated into a new class, students will feel inferior and refuse to go to school; if they study in the conference room, the class is too large, students sitting at the back cannot see the board and cannot hear the teacher's lecture.

Don't blame the school.

In recent days, social distancing in schools has also received much public attention. Regarding responsibility, the work of schools is necessary and must be implemented in accordance with the regulations and guidelines...

A socially distanced classroom at Nghi Hai Primary School - Cua Lo town. Photo: My Ha

Many people think that if there is no social distancing, is the educational environment safe? From an objective perspective, the education sector has done a very good job of preparing students to return to school with thousands of new hand washing taps installed, hundreds of cleaning sessions, desks and chairs in classrooms being rearranged and adjusted... When coming to school, students are regularly reminded by teachers and advised not to gather in large groups. Although it is very difficult and inconvenient, in recent days, teachers and students have been quite serious about wearing masks during class... With these preparations, it is believed that most parents trust and feel secure when students return to school.

Organizing body temperature measurement for students is a measure to check their health before entering class. Photo: My Ha