Students of Bát Đại Sơn School, Quản Bạ District are provided with blankets and warm clothes thanks to organisations and social support. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ GIANG — As a strong cold spell hit the northern region of Việt Nam since mid-December, schools in mountainous areas have taken the initiative to ensure their students stay healthy.

Phạm Hồng Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hà Giang Provincial Department of Education and Training, signed a letter requesting local schools ensure the health of students in extreme weather conditions with rain and temperatures dropping to below 5 degrees Celsius.

The letter requested the heads of the district-level education and training departments and schools to actively monitor weather developments.

In extreme weather conditions (when temperatures fall below 10 degrees C for preschool and primary levels, 7 degrees C for junior high school) the education department leaders could decide to keep students off school and plan to help them study from home.

The schools should arrange reasonable outdoor activities in cold weather conditions. In cases of students arriving late due to the weather, teachers should make arrangements for them to attend as normal.

Schools also need to check classrooms and dormitories to ensure adequate light and warmth.

Preschools must ensure warm water is available around the clock.

The provincial education department also requires schools to arrange staff and teachers are on duty.

Schools must ensure that all administrative activities are still carried out during cold days, based on the actual weather conditions.

“It is very important to keep students warm, especially students in upland schools in the winter, in order to maintain the quality of education."

Phạm Quang Hòa, principal of Bát Đại Sơn School, Quản Bạ District, said that the school had maintained warm water and ensured hot meals for students. Students also were provided with blankets and warm clothes thanks to organisations and social support.

Currently, all semi-boarding houses for 199 ethnic minority students among a total of 485 were equipped with blankets and sealed windows.

He said during the first days of the cold spell, the number of students going to school remained at a high level of 99 per cent and all were in good health.

Nguyễn Giang Thúy, a teacher at Tả Ván School, Quản Bạ District, said that 286 out of 355 students were living in dormitories around the school.

The school has prepared blankets, warm clothes, warm food and hot water for children. Rooms have also been repaired.

Nông Văn Ninh, Vice Principal of Pó Tấu Secondary School, Trùng Khánh District of Cao Bằng Province, said when temperatures dropped to 8 degrees educational activities were still carried out and no student left school.

Most students were from ethnic minorities, whose families still faced poor living conditions. “We regularly call on organisations and individuals to provide winter clothing and equipment via social media.”  

Hà Trần Hồng, a teacher of Khao Mang School in Mù Cang Chải District of Yên Bái Province, said that the daytime temperature dropped to 11-12 degrees and the weather forecast it would be lower in the next few days.

“Currently, the prevention of cold in school has been completed with fully-equipped rooms and meals for children.”

However, he said they still needed a lot of help from individuals and social organisations across the country.  VNS