School becomes 'common home' for more than 1,000 students amid Hanoi flooding

Heavy rain caused many streets to be flooded, parents were unable to pick up their children in time, and many schools promptly arranged meals and accommodation for students to stay.

After a day of heavy rain that flooded many streets in Hanoi , many students at Nguyen Binh Khiem School (Cau Giay) spent a "special camping night" right at their school. They were arranged a place to sleep, had dinner, and on the morning of October 1, continued to receive a free breakfast, before starting a new school day with the peace of mind of their parents.

Heavy rain in Hanoi, parents carry their children and wade through the water (Photo: Minh Duc)

Previously, on the afternoon of September 30, Mr. Dam Tien Nam - Principal of Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary and High School (Cau Giay) announced the temporary suspension of bus operations to pick up and drop off students. The school requested that parents who have the conditions and ensure safety can proactively pick up their children. If they are not in time, the school will arrange for students to eat and rest at school. At 5:00 p.m. the same day, more than 960 parents registered for their children to stay, about 50% of the school's students. Of which, 261 were elementary school students, 221 were middle school students, and over 400 were high school students.

“Once we know the number of students staying, the school immediately contacts the food supplier so the kitchen can prepare dinner. Our top priority is to ensure the health and safety of the students. In any situation, the school always mobilizes human resources and resources to ensure the safety of the children as if they were at home ,” said Mr. Nam.

Students eagerly enjoy a warm dinner at school.

At exactly 6pm, students eagerly went to the cafeteria to have dinner with friends and teachers. The free meals were carefully prepared with familiar, nutritious menus such as vegetables, braised meat, fried chicken, stir-fried beef, etc. The atmosphere was filled with laughter.

Pham Vu Duy (class 8A) shared: “I never thought that one day I would have dinner and sleep at school. It feels like camping, very memorable.”

A carefully prepared dinner helps students have a warm meal in the stormy weather.

Diverse menu, full of nutrients

At 8pm, Nguyen Binh Khiem School organized a gathering for students. Here, students could chat and share with teachers and friends, and participate in light, age-appropriate games. This event not only helped students relieve stress after school, but also gave them a clearer sense of their “second home”.

Ms. Le Hai Linh, a parent of a 7th grade student at Nguyen Binh Khiem School, said that even though she got off work at 4 p.m., after more than 2 hours, she was still "stuck" on Thai Ha Street (Chua Boc), unable to get to Cau Giay to pick up her child. At 5 p.m., she was happy to hear that the school had created conditions for students to stay, have dinner and rest.

Nguyen Binh Khiem School said that on October 1, it will continue to maintain both in-person and online learning formats for parents to choose from according to their travel conditions. Students staying overnight at the school will receive free breakfast before returning to normal classes.

On the afternoon of September 30, Mr. Tran The Cuong - Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that due to the continued heavy rain affecting learning and the transportation system throughout the city, the Department has decided to let all educational institutions close on October 1.

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/truong-hoc-thanh-ngoi-nha-chung-cua-hon-1-000-hoc-sinh-giua-mua-ngap-ha-noi-ar968491.html