A teacher at Tuổi Thơ Kindergarten in HCM City's District 8 instructs students to apply hand sanitizer before entering the classroom. VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hoài

HCM CITY —  Pre-schools and kindergartens in HCM City can reopen on June 14 with strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures, the Department of Education and Training announced on Thursday.

Regular inspections will be carried out by authorities to ensure they comply with all safety regulations.

All educational institutions were ordered closed on May 10 as part of nation-wide efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic.

But the huge demand for child care as a result has caused unlicensed centres to mushroom.

Lương Thị Hồng Diệp, head of the department’s nursery education office, said district education and training authorities have been instructed to crack down on unlicensed operators.

Her department has instructed schools to survey demand for summer classes from June 14 if the pandemic is under control by then, she said.

It could help prevent unlicensed classes, which bring with them a high risk of COVID-19 infection, she said.

Kiều Mỹ Chi, deputy head of education and training office in Thủ Đức City, said parents who are both busy at work opt for home-based care providers for their children, making it difficult to manage.

Many teachers at private facilities strike private deals with parents to take care of their children at their home, she added.

Nguyễn Thị Kim Uyên, deputy head of education and training office in District 10, said there are 8,500 children at public and private pre-schools and kindergartens in the district.

Teachers at private schools are allowed to accept up to three children for care at their homes when schools are closed, but with safety measures in place, she said.

Teachers at public schools have to come to school for online teaching and training, she said. — VNS