Hai Phong continues to let students stay home from school on September 12

The Hai Phong Department of Education and Training has just sent a document to the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts; principals of high schools and multi-level general schools; heads of affiliated units and directors of foreign language centers, information technology, life skills education and extracurricular activities about allowing students to stay home from school due to prolonged heavy rain.

Tien Thang Secondary School's roof was blown off. Photo: Vinh Quan

The Department of Education and Training of Hai Phong City has requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts and towns to decide, based on the situation of rain, floods, traffic safety and other conditions, to allow schools, preschools, primary schools, secondary schools; vocational education centers, and continuing education centers to close on September 12 until safety in terms of weather, traffic, and damage after the storm is resolved.

A school in Tien Thang commune, Tien Lang district was damaged. Photo: Vinh Quan

Direct the Department of Education and Training, the vocational education and continuing education centers of districts and towns to review the conditions for organizing online teaching and learning according to the instructions of the Department of Education and Training on organizing and managing online teaching and learning for the 2024-2025 school year. For units that do not meet the requirements for electricity, transmission lines... and cannot organize online teaching and learning, have a plan to make up for it after returning to school.

Ngoc Xuyen Primary School, Ngoc Xuyen Ward, Do Son District. Photo: Vinh Quan

Requesting high schools; multi-level general schools with high school level; and affiliated units to suspend in-person learning at school from September 12 until further notice from the Department. Schools review the conditions for organizing online learning according to the Department of Education and Training's instructions on organizing and managing online teaching.

Ngoc Xuyen Primary School's shack area devastated after storm No. 3. Photo: Vinh Quan

For foreign language centers, information technology centers, life skills education centers and extracurricular activities, the above notice must also be followed.

After storm No. 3, about 2,687 classrooms in Hai Phong City had their roofs blown off, of which more than 1,000 required major repairs. The number of affected subject classrooms was 369, with nearly 100 requiring major repairs. Auxiliary structures such as parking lots, medical rooms, and restrooms were also severely damaged, with more than 700 structures unusable.

Sao Sang 3 Kindergarten damaged after the storm. Photo: Vinh Quan

In addition, 220 learning support rooms (including computer and multi-purpose rooms) and 65 activity rooms such as kitchens and dining rooms are inoperable. Nearly 4,000 trees in schools were damaged and broken.

The tree system at Sao Sang 3 Kindergarten fell down. Photo: Vinh Quan

The Hai Phong Department of Education and Training said that the school system and teaching equipment have been severely damaged, causing disruption to teaching activities. Currently, many roads are still blocked due to fallen trees, damaged lighting and sign systems, seriously affecting traffic. Environmental sanitation, electricity, and water conditions are also not guaranteed.

School systems in all districts were directly affected by storm number 3.

Debris was scattered everywhere at a kindergarten. Photo: Vinh Quan

The Department of Education and Training of Hai Phong has proposed that the People's Committee of Hai Phong City allocate funds to repair essential works, first of all, classrooms to ensure teaching and learning activities. At the same time, it requires functional forces to ensure traffic safety, electricity and water supply, and restore communication systems to ensure teaching and learning conditions when students return to school.