HCM City schools are preparing to welcome students back from next week — VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HCM CITY — Students in HCM City will return to school next Monday (May 4) after a three-and-a-half month break due to COVID-19.

Classes from kindergarten to high school will welcome students back in a staggered manner and not all at the same time.

Those in grades nine and 12 will return on Monday to finish their second semester before the high school entrance and high school graduation exams respectively in late July and early August.

Students in other grades between four and 11 will start on Friday (May 8), and those in grades one to three, on Monday week (May 11).

For kindergartens and nurseries, the resumption dates are May 18 (five-year-olds), May 25 (four- and three-year-olds), and June 1 for younger children.

Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city People’s Committee, has instructed the Department of Education and Training and Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to prepare for taking students back to school with specific guidance to prevent coronavirus infection.

Schools must ensure hygiene and disinfection of their facilities before the students return.

They must have enough hand sanitisers and non-contact thermometers, and students and teachers should wash their hands and have their temperature checked before classes.

Students and teachers must wear masks all the time and keep a safe distance from each other.

Some schools plan to temporarily close their cafeteria and suspend school bus operations.

Phong also ordered the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Disease Prevention and Control in districts to strengthen inspections and ensure educational institutions, including language centres, computer classes and tuition centres, follow safety regulations.

Last week, Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee, ordered the supply of free face masks for students returning to school.

Each will be provided three masks per month for three months. They will be made from antibacterial material and can be washed and reused up to ten times. — VNS