Nursery schools in Khanh Hoa Province reopened from May 11 after a 3-month COVID-19 shutdown with emphasis on assuring children's safety during the pandemic...
Nursery schools in Khanh Hoa Province reopened from May 11 after a 3-month COVID-19 shutdown with emphasis on assuring children’s safety during the pandemic.
Assuring school hygiene
Young children were welcomed back to school after a long closure. Many were excited about returning to classes. Pham Dang Khanh Trung, Panda Class 2, Hoa Mi Nha Trang Nursery School said, “I miss my teachers and friends. I’m glad to get back to school.” Most of the children showed excitement and soon got used to the school routines although there were still some tearful drop-offs. Parents were also helpful and supportive to encourage children to go back to school, according to Teacher Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung.
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Bui Thi Thu Ha, Principal of Hoa Mi Nha Trang Nursery School said, “To welcome children back, the school has been disinfected. The commercial kitchen has maintained, meeting requirements for cleanliness and safe food handling. Young children are regularly told to keep personal hygiene and follow health guidelines by both teaches and parents. Many care and education activities are organized to make school days enjoyable.”
An automatic hand sanitizer dispenser is made available at the gate of Phuoc Long Nursery School, Nha Trang City. Hand sanitizer and soaps are also available for use in each classroom. Principal Cao Thi Hanh says the school has 11 classes with 325 children. 274 children went to school on the first reopening day. Teachers have contacted with parents for child care and education cooperation.
Cao Thi Thanh Ha, Principal of 3-2 Nursery School, Nha Trang City says the entire school with all toys has been cleaned and disinfected to assure safety. Parents are asked to check their children’s temperatures before taking them to school. Children with a fever, a cough or shortness of breath are advised to remain home and see a doctor and report the health problems to teachers.
Uoc Mo Xanh Nursery School has also made thorough preparation for the reopening day. Posters on guidance against COVID-19 are put up in many places inside the school. More than 90% of children have been back to school in Phuoc Long Ward School location while only 50% to the school location in Phuoc Dong where many parents are not permanent residents, earning a living from cash-in-hand jobs, according to Tran Thi Ngan, a school manager.
Mapie Bear VCN (Nha Trang City) greeted 135 children returning to classes on May 11. Each class has 3 teachers. The school has made pandemic control and prevention plans, assuring hygiene inside and outside classrooms, in dining areas, restrooms, etc. Parents have been guided to take measures against the pandemic at home and before taking children to school.
Good cooperation with parents
According to Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training, there are more than 63,000 nursery school-aged children in Khanh Hoa, mostly in Nha Trang City (22,000 children at 71 nursery schools, 40 public and 31 private, and 187 licensed private preschool classes. The rate of children returning to classes in Khanh Hoa on the 2nd reopening day reached 89.3%, 5% higher than the first day. The rate was 86.6% in Nha Trang City, 89.2% in Cam Ranh City, 87.9% in Ninh Hoa Town, 93.8% in Dien Khanh District, 89.3% in Khanh Son District and 94.5% in Khanh Vinh District. 100% of schools have provided day-boarding service. Before and during the reopening day, divisions of education and training have conducted inspection on preparations to welcome children back as well as pandemic control and prevention measures at schools.
Moreover, schools have also made pandemic control and prevention plans and coordinated with parents well in child care and education. Inspection teams have also reminded schools of strictly following commercial kitchen processes, ensuring cleanliness and safety for children in all activities, adjusting the second semester curricula for the academic year 2019 - 2020 based on the department's guidance, ensuring such essential skills as integration skills, self-service and personal hygiene, especially for children preparing for 1st grade. Schools with few children returning to classes are required to communicate with parents to keep them informed of the situation and thus mobilize children to go to school to ensure the education content and goals of each age group.
H.Ngan
Translated by N.T
