Hanoi (VNA) – Ministerof Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son has underlined the necessity forschool reopening, noting that the country now has sufficient conditions for themove.

Safely adapting to the pandemicand gradually reopening schools are highly important for educational activitiesto return to normal, he told the Vietnam News Agency on January 25.

He said under the Government’sdirections on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control ofCOVID-19, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has worked with theHealth Ministry to issue guidance on pandemic safety for students once in-personlearning is restored.

Over the last two years,online teaching and learning have been carried out on a large scale as acompulsory measure in response to the pandemic. However, differences incommunication infrastructure and economic conditions among regions haveresulted in a large gap in educational access. Students, especially preschooland primary ones, in less developed, mountainous, and insular areas haveencountered disadvantages in this regard, Son admitted.

Facing that fact, varioussolutions have been taken. Under a programme launched by the Prime Minister,localities, businesses, organisations, and individuals have donated schooltools and expanded the Internet coverage to help with online learning. Thousandsof computers and smart phones have been delivered to underprivileged studentsso far, according to the minister.

He held that the pandemic hasgiven a boost to the IT application in the education sector, greatlycontributing to the fundamental and comprehensive reform of education andtraining.

Pointing out the need forschool reopening, the official said prolonged virtual learning may lead tocertain negative impacts on educational quality, as well as the physical andmental health of teachers, students, and related persons.

Meanwhile, Vietnam hasrecorded a high vaccination rate in the community, including those aged between12 and under 18, and gained more experience in disease prevention and control.It now has sufficient grounds, experience, and conditions to strongly promoteschool reopening.

This is not merely schoolreopening but also the reinforcement and reconstruction of education, Son wenton.

The MoET has also askedlocalities to make plans on consolidating knowledge for students when in-personlearning is resumed, he said, adding that the consolidation will be conductedin not only one year but many years.

During ameeting in Hanoi on January 24, Deputy Minister Ngo Thi Minh said 14 localitiesnationwide have restored in-personlearning, 30 others combined both online and offline learning,and 19 others offered lessons online or via television. As scheduled, 35 morelocalities will re-open schools on February 7, bringing the total to 49, while14 others will do the same on February 12./.