Vinh City: Traffic congestion at school gates on the first day students return to school

This morning, primary school students and grades 6, 7, and 8 of secondary schoolsgo back to school to studyafter nearly 4 months of online learning.

However, due to complicated weather conditions and increased traffic density during rush hour, many roads in the city have been partially congested. Especially on roads with many schools, the congestion has lasted longer.

Dinh Cong Trang Street is a one-way street, but because it is home to many schools, traffic jams often occur during pick-up and drop-off times or after school. Photo: Tien Dong

On Dinh Cong Trang Street, where Le Mao Kindergarten, Primary School, and Secondary School are located, of which Le Mao Primary School and Secondary School all returned to in-person learning this morning, traffic congestion occurred from 6:30 to 7:15 and from about 10:30 to 11:30. Although the road has been switched to one-way traffic to reduce traffic congestion, many parents still take their children to school by car, so congestion is inevitable.

Or on Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, where Hung Dung 1 Primary School and Hung Dung Secondary School are located, congestion also occurred at the end of school hours. Local authorities have assigned forces to support the school in traffic flow and guide vehicles to avoid prolonged congestion, but congestion still occurs.

Traffic jam on Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, where Hung Dung 1 Primary School and Hung Dung Secondary School are located. Photo: Tien Dong

The return of students to school when the epidemic in Vinh City has been basically controlled is extremely necessary, especially in the context that students are preparing to enter the mid-term examination period.

To ensure safety in epidemic prevention work, the City People's Committee has also directed the Department of Education and Training, People's Committees of wards and communes to coordinate with schools to find solutions in epidemic prevention and control work.Covid-19 epidemic, disinfect and sterilize schools. In addition, encourage people not to sell food and drink to students in each area in front of the school gate, strictly prohibit mobile vending in front of the school gate.

Authorities had to brave the rain to direct traffic in front of the school gate at the end of school hours. Photo: Tien Dong

According to many parents, schools need to be more flexible in allocating dismissal times for grades and classes. They can announce specific pick-up times and arrange dismissal times for grades 10-15 minutes apart, to limit parents from gathering at the school gate at the same time to avoid the risk of spreading the epidemic, and at the same time reduce traffic congestion.