BackStories » Saigon » Education Department Proposes Vaccinating Students to Reopen Schools

Today, thousands of students across Saigon officially began a new school year at home.

According to the latest school plan released by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, middle schools, high schools and continuing education centers started their 2021–2022 school year today, reports Tuoi Tre. Primary school children will have a later start, on September 8.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, all local students will join lessons online at least for the entirety of the first semester, which runs until late January. Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Education and Training Nguyễn Văn Hiếu shared that online learning will be the “new normal” for this school year, while it was a temporary measure last year.

Most recently, the department submitted a proposal to the municipal People’s Committee to consider vaccinating school children ages 12 to 18 when there’s an “appropriate amount” of shots. The proposal notes that the inoculation campaign should take place before the first semester ends so students can return to schools in the second semester after Tet. There are over 642,000 students eligible for shots under this proposal.

Meanwhile, the city is moving ahead with plans to give second shots to teachers and school staff and has requested the education department to compile a list of employees and their vaccination status to prepare for this. School staff were among the earliest groups in Vietnam to be vaccinated, with the majority of teachers receiving their first shot back in May and June.

[Photo by Tấn Thạnh via Nguoi Lao Dong]

Related Articles

in Saigon

Delta Variant Accounts for 100% of Cases in Saigon's Current Outbreak, Data Shows

The Delta variant of the novel coronavirus was the main reason that the current outbreak in Saigon was so fast-spreading and severe, a recent report shows.

in Saigon

It's Official: Saigon Public Schools to Reopen Starting From Next Week

Masks have played a prominent role in Vietnam's fight against the spread of COVID-19, and will continue to do so moving into the new normal.

in Saigon

Over 1,500 Schoolchildren Become Orphans Due to Saigon's Covid-19 Outbreak

The current COVID-19 crisis has crippled Saigon’s economy and disrupted the daily life of millions of people, but most tragically, it has also taken thousands of lives.

in Saigon

Over 70% of Parents of Grade 1 Students Don't Support In-Person Classes

In-person learning for Saigon's Grade 1 students is set to resume on December 13 for two weeks as a trial program, but more than 70% of parents don't want their children to return to the classroom.

in Saigon

Over 75% of Saigoneers Have Received 2 Shots of Covid-19 Vaccines

After a sluggish start, Saigon has sped up inoculation efforts, becoming Vietnam’s locality with the most vaccine coverage.

in Saigon

Saigon Begins Vaccinating Students to Prepare for School Reopening

The city aims to administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to approximately 780,000 children aged 12 to 17.

Partner Content