Vietnam schools are scheduled to reopen.
Are schools reopening in HCMC, Vietnam, or not?
Yes, they are, but with a twist brought on by the severity of the Covid -19 virus. At the moment it is planned for children to start school again on December 13th. They will have to expect changes in the school and in the classrooms.
As kids return to school on December 13, schools in Ho Chi Minh City are devising flexible strategies to reopen them. The safety of students and teachers is a top priority. So the schools are devising plans to reduce the spread of Covid among the students and teachers
Currently, more than 98 percent of school pupils have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination. But a large number of parents are still worried about sending their children back to school.
And with good reason. I just learned tonight that one of my student’s fathers’ died and was cremated before the family got to see his body. The government is taking drastic action in trying to prevent the further spread of Covid.
Plans to reduce the risk of Covid.
Some of these plans include the use of hand sanitizers, medical masks, and extra disinfectant lights in the restrooms. They will also be supplied to all classrooms. And a medical isolation facility will also be created near the school gate for the treatment of suspected cases.
Class numbers will be limited to 35 students in each class. seats will be arranged to ensure that the students are kept at a safe distance from one another.
To guarantee the safety of students, large-group classes will be held in larger classrooms and libraries.
The schools have also purchased vitamins C, D, and zinc to give to pupils when they return to school to help them build their immune systems.
How will they teach?
For the remainder of the first semester, the schools will combine face-to-face and online instruction.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education, low-risk high schools can resume classroom teaching for 30 hours per week, but medium-risk facilities can only operate for 18 hours per week.
Basic courses like math, literature, foreign languages, chemistry, and physics will be taught in class, while subjects like technology, art, and music will continue to be taught online.
Grades 6, 9, and 12.
Students in grades 6, 9, and 12 will have no more than 18 face-to-face classes per week. In particular, educational institutions on level 4 alert (very high-risk areas) will only offer online instruction, some broadcasts on television, as well as provide students with lessons to study at home.
Grade 1
For kids in Grade 1, primary schools in Covid-19 alert level 1 locations will be allowed to resume half-day face-to-face sessions.
Schools in Covid-19 alert level 2 locations will be able to run half-day lessons with 50% of the total number of 1st graders per day.
First-graders in Covid-19 alert level 3 locations will return to a half-day session three days a week. Each day’s session has 50% of the total number of students.
Students in Covid-19 alert level 4 locations will only have access to online learning.
English centers
English training centers that have been unable to open have been running virtual classes online. And even though this is not as effective, in my opinion, as face-to-face teaching, it has provided some tuition for the students. As well as welcome funds for the teachers.
Many English centers have suffered and a lot have closed. Some taking teachers’ pay and the student’s fees along with them.
However after a lengthy time closed a lot of the English centers that remain are re-opening their doors in Saigon.
The planned reopening coincides with the schedule of the State schools.
Are flights open again?
Flights are being reopened from December 15th with a two-phase reopening plan
As part of a two-phase reopening plan, Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has proposed that international flights on nine routes across Asia and the United States begin on December 15.
If permitted, the first phase will begin this week with four weekly flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the United States, as well as Singapore, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Laos, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei.
From January 1, 2022, phase two of the project asks for more routes, including Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, and Sydney.
The first phase will include flights to and from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with the second phase expanding to include Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, and Van Dong.
You can find out more at the Vietnam Airlines website. ==> HERE <==
Is it safe to travel to Vietnam.
Vietnam is opening its doors again and if you are fully vaccinated you will not need to be quarantined. If you are unvaccinated you will be quarantined on arrival at your cost. Vietnam is still considered to be a high-risk country to travel to.
Yes, you can come to Vietnam but you will be required to wear a mask outdoors and you should be fully vaccinated. If you want to come to teach it will be mandatory for classroom teachers to be fully vaccinated.
However, there are some jobs that only require online teaching which do not need the teachers to be vaccinated.
More schools will be going back to classroom teaching so in my opinion if you want to teach in Vietnam and you do not want the shots you will find it very difficult to support yourself.
Conclusion.
While the schools are reopening there will be a big demand for English teachers. Many teachers left Vietnam at the start of the pandemic and there are not enough teachers to fill the demand that will happen.
It is completely up to you if you wish to risk coming to Vietnam and I would advise to liaise with your embassy or travel advisory body before deciding.
Who am I?
My name is Stephen and I have been living and working in Vietnam for 15 years. I have my own school and also do teacher placements in Vietnam. You can check out my house on YouTube below.
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