Ho Chi Minh City school principals allowed to switch classes online in case of flooding

Ho Chi Minh City has seen heavy rain during students’ arrival and dismissal times in recent days.

Heavy downpours combined with high tides have flooded many roads, with water reaching waist height in some areas.

Rain during dismissal hours has also caused traffic congestion on many roads, making it difficult for students and parents to get home.

Some students said they did not arrive home until 9:00 pm on some days, soaked by rain and floodwater.

Ho Chi Minh City will continue to experience heavy rain in the afternoons and evenings, according to the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center.

Rain is forecast to increase in both area and intensity on October 5 and 6 as a low-pressure trough strengthens and develops into a tropical convergence zone.

Many parents are concerned that heavy rain and prolonged flooding could pose risks to students’ health. 

Heavy rain also poses safety risks, with trees having fallen during recent incidents.

Nguyen Bao Quoc, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on Saturday morning that Circular 09 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training provides regulations on managing and organizing online teaching at general education institutions.

Under the circular, the heads of general education institutions decide how online teaching is organized. 

Schools may organize online classes in place of in-person classes when students are unable to attend school due to force majeure.

Therefore, based on the curriculum, local weather conditions and the school’s timetable, principals have the authority to decide on an appropriate learning format.

“In the context of complicated weather conditions, including heavy rain, high tides and flooded roads as seen in recent days, principals may organize online classes for students,” Quoc said.

He added that online teaching materials are developed in line with the general education curriculum and updated on each school’s online learning system.

Ensuring student safety

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training previously issued a document to educational institutions across the city on ensuring students’ safety while traveling to and from school.

The department asked schools to coordinate with authorities to review roads and areas frequently used by students that pose safety risks, and develop appropriate plans for each location and for groups of students at higher risk.

Students must not be allowed to cross dangerous areas until it is safe to do so.

At high-risk locations, schools should coordinate with local authorities, the police, the military, and relevant agencies to guide and assist students.

The department also asked communal- and ward-level authorities and special zones to review the need to repair or invest in bridges, roads and other transport infrastructure serving students traveling to school, prioritizing urgent locations.

Where immediate repairs are not possible, authorities should put in place warning systems, traffic diversion, assistance or transportation for students so that students do not have to miss school because of travel difficulties.

Local authorities and schools were also instructed to closely monitor weather, natural disasters and traffic conditions, and maintain regular communication among schools, local authorities and students’ parents.

Schools were asked to step up education on safe road use, traffic accident and drowning prevention and how to respond to dangerous situations while traveling to and from school.

The content should be practical and tailored to local conditions, particularly in coastal, island, river and lake areas.