HÀ NỘI – President Trần Đại Quang has congratulated education workers and students nationwide on the occasion of the new academic year 2017-2018.

In his congratulatory message written yesterday, the President hailed the educational sector for its achievements in the previous school year.

Educational reform is on the right track while the quality of education at all levels has been enhanced, he said.

He extolled students with accomplishments at international Olympiads in maths, physics, chemistry, biology and informatics.

The President asked the educational sector to push ahead with reforms and focus on building a safe, healthy and friendly environment.

He called for the development of education in ethnic minority populated regions, taking better care of students from policy beneficiary families and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

New school year opening ceremonies will take place at educational institutes nationwide on Tuesday.

In the northern mountainous province of Yên Bái, which was hit the hardest by flooding in August, preparation for the new school year is complete.

On August 15, secondary students of Mù Căng Chải District started their lessons. According to local authorities, despite isolated roads after the floods, 85 per cent of secondary students attended school.

Kim Nọi primary and secondary day-boarding school for ethnic minorities has nearly 400 students, more than 90 per cent of which went to school.

Meanwhile, the education sector of Mù Căng Chải District has ordered schools to clean up schools and deal with the aftermath of floods and to prepare enough classrooms and stationery for the new academic year.

Hà Hồng, deputy principal of Lao Chải secondary day-boarding school for ethnic minority students said that schools and teachers are responsible for contacting absent students and encouraging them to attend school.

Phạm Thị Thủy, principal of Mù Căng Chải Primary and Secondary School, said the school facilities have been repaired after the floods. The school also presented pens, books and bags to students.

In the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên, the Department of Education and Training and local authorities have mobilised funds to repaire damaged infrastructure and encouraged schools to help with the post-flood clean up. Despite damaged facilities, schools in the province have had more than 90 per cent of some 180,000 students attend class and expect to have 100 per cent by the opening ceremony.

Nặm Păm Secondary School in Mường La District in the northern mountainous province of Sơn La where many schools were swept away after the floods in the north last month has finished building 11 temporary classrooms where nearly 400 students will study.

Houses for day-boarding kindergarten and primary school children are also under construction.

Secretary of the Party Committee of Mường La District Nguyễn Thành Công said that the district has built 27 temporary classrooms, six day-boarding classrooms and canteens at schools. Nearly 20 damaged classrooms have been also repaired.

Tuition fees for students in the province’s flooded areas will be waived, according to local authorities.

For the new school year, northern Vĩnh Phúc Province has more than 258,000 students at all levels. The provincial Department of Education and Training has constructed 157 new classrooms for 18 nursery schools in disadvantaged areas and equipped laboratories for physics, chemistry, biology and computer science.

Kon Tum Province, however, needs another 2,500 management officials, teachers and workers for the education sector for the new school year, according to the provincial Department of Education and Training.

Specifically, the province lacks 136 management officials, 1,780 teachers and 753 workers.

The most serious shortage is seen at the kindergarten education level, which needs 76 management officials, 1,121 teachers and 93 workers.

Nguyễn Phúc Phận, director of the department, said to improve the situation, the department moved teachers from areas with little shortage to areas with serious shortages. Principals and deputy principals will also serve as teachers.

Short-term contracts will be signed with kindergarten teachers to enroll more teachers and ensure each kindergarten class has at least one teacher. — VNS