High school students attend classes in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Education and Training has sought approval from the People’s Committee to allow preschool children and first to sixth graders to return to school after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays.

It requires schools to prepare for resumption of classes from February 7 and receive students a week later.

Local COVID prevention and control committees will check their pandemic response plans before the resumption.

Many schools have said they are ready to resume classes after being closed for nearly one year due to the pandemic.

Nineteen public and 26 private preschools with a total of 8,500 students are fully prepared.

Nguyễn Thị Kim Uyên, deputy head of the District 10 education and training office, said preschools have been checked for safety.

Nguyễn Thị Vân, principal of Anh Đào Kindergarten in Gò Vấp District, told Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper that she is waiting for authorities to announce details like whether classes would be for half day or full day and if breakfast would be provided to children to draw up teaching plans.

The school has been disinfected, and offers a clean and safe environment for its more than 700 students, she said.

Nguyễn Thái Vĩnh Nguyên, head of Thủ Đức City’s education and training office, said inspection of all 61 public preschools and several selected private ones would be finished before Tết.

Most parents have expressed a desire to send their children to school for the full day, he added. —VNS