Nghe An: Many parents are worried about the epidemic so they let their children stay home from school.

Strengthening epidemic prevention measures

Today, students begin week 34 of the school year and according to plan, it will be almost 3 weeks before students start.summer vacationTherefore, although up to this point, schools have basically completed their final semester exams, teaching and learning in schools are still taking place normally.

Hong Son Primary School organizes temperature checks for students before entering class. Photo: My Ha

At Hong Son Primary School in Vinh City, many parents brought their children to school early in the morning according to the schedule. However, to strengthen disease prevention, the school assigned teachers to stand directly at the school gate to measure students' body temperature. Parents and teachers also strictly followed this regulation. Mr. Le Van Long, a parent of the school, said: After the exam, I also wondered whether I should send my child to school or not. But if he stays at home, I am also worried because his parents work all day, and there is no one at home to take care of him.

In kindergartens, because the students are still young, disease prevention is even more enhanced. At kindergartens in Vinh city, this morning, many schools took body temperature and disinfected hands for students.

Students of Le Mao Kindergarten wash their hands with sanitizer on the morning of May 10. Photo: My Ha

At Le Mao Kindergarten, this task is assigned to the school's security department and although there is no need for much reminder, parents still carry it out very seriously. Along with hand washing and sanitizing, the school also increases propaganda with visual images to raise awareness among parents and students. Also this morning, through observations at schools, nearly 100% of parents put masks on their children before going to school.

Many parents are worried about letting their children stay home from school.

The news that many students are absent from school has not only been around since this morning but has been "buzzing" since yesterday evening, after many parents received notices that they will return to school as usual from Monday morning at schools. Ms. Nguyen Hong, whose child is studying at Ha Huy Tap Primary School - Vinh City, said: From Friday, her child's class has finished.checkend of semester. So in my opinion, at this time the children can take a break from school because going to school is mainly to play.

Together with the school, parents have strictly enforced the wearing of masks for their children when coming to class. Photo: Duc Anh

In closed groups of classes, many parents have also asked for their children to take a day off or not to have lunch at school. Ms. Le Trinh, whose child is studying at Vinh University Pedagogical Practice School, said: Today, my children's school let the children take a day off so that the school can calculate their grades and return to school as usual tomorrow. However, I saw some parents texting the homeroom teacher to let their children take a day off. I am really worried and want to let my children have an early summer break because they still have a long time to study, and trying to do more will not be effective. Or the school can teach online and give them homework to do at home because the remaining time is mainly practice sessions.

At Hong Son Primary School, this morning, many parents also came early to directly submit leave applications for their children. School leaders said that currently, the whole school has 169/900 students absent with reasons such as having a cold, going home or no reason...

Social distancing for preschool students at Hong Son Kindergarten. Photo: Duc Anh

At Hung Dung 2 Primary School, teacher Hoang Thi Thuy - Principal of the school said: Our school has 1,000 students and this morning 200 students asked to be absent from school, a rate of about 20%. This could have two reasons, first is the psychology of parents thinking that their children have finished the semester exam, second is that many parents are still worried about the epidemic.

Regarding the reason why many parents think that going to school is not necessary because they have completed the program, teacher Hoang Thi Thuy affirmed that "that is incorrect because we still organize normal teaching according to the program and the lesson plan has been fully prepared". To reassure parents, before today's class, the school board issued a document requesting teachers of all classes and parents to strengthen disease prevention work. The school took students' body temperature before entering the classroom, took it a second time during the first 15 minutes of class and disinfected it after the class.

Switch to online learning?

The issue of whether or not students should go to school at this time has also received the attention of many parents on social networks. However, besides some opposing opinions and "absolutely keeping children at home", many parents also said: "Disease prevention must be implemented synchronously, parents cannot worry about the disease while their children go to school, but at home, parents still go to work, go to the market, even go drinking beer, and gather in crowded places".

On the morning of May 10, many parents came to school to submit leave applications for their children. Photo: My Ha

Long school breaks also lead to unsafe conditions for students, especially in families without caregivers. Teacher Nguyen Thi Xuan - Principal of Hanh Thiet Secondary School - Quy Chau said: In our area, many parents work far away. Therefore, if we let the children stay home, we are worried because many children are not fully aware of the epidemic. In fact, at school, the children are reminded regularly by teachers, but at home, many parents are negligent.

Regarding teaching at this time, the Department's leaders also directed units to organize teaching according to the education plan, not to increase the number of sessions to consolidate the program, or to push the program forward. In case the epidemic becomes more complicated, online teaching can be used to complete the program.

Students wear masks in class. Photo: Duc Anh

Currently, the epidemic in Nghe An has been basically controlled with no cases detected.positiveSecond, the F1 cases that have been tested are also having negative results. However, the epidemic is complicated nationwide, the number of positive cases is increasing rapidly, including many cases of students.

Therefore, it is understandable that parents are concerned.