The Hanoi administration has delayed the sending of grade 1 to 6 students back to school next week as most parents have yet to approve their attendance at in-person classes amid increasing COVID-19 cases among students in Vietnam’s capital city.

Accordingly, around 400,000 students of grades 1 to 6 in 12 inner city districts will not return to their schools next Monday as planned and they will continue to study online until further notice, the Hanoi People’s Committee said on Friday.

The delay was issued based on a proposal of the local Department of Education and Training, which had conducted a survey among parents at many elementary schools on whether they allowed their children to return to school on February 21 as scheduled.

Most of the respondents did not agree at the planned school returning date, as COVID-19 cases have recently increased among students since the city welcomed students of grades 7 to 12 across the city and grade 1 - 6 students in 18 suburban districts and towns back to school on February 8.

At many schools, only 50 percent of parents gave a nod to the resumption of in-person classes, and particularly for parents of grade 1-2 students, the approval ratio was under 30 percent.

Vu Thi Nhung, vice principal of Marie Curie Hanoi School in Nam Tu Liem District, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday that the school recorded four more positive cases on the same day, after seven cases were confirmed the day before. 

“We have recorded a few COVID-19 cases every day since receiving students back to school,” Nhung said.

After more than a week of organizing physical classes, Marie Curie School has recorded a total of 50 infections among students, the vice principal said, adding that the school has taken necessary measures to avoid the interruption of in-person learning.

“As none of these infected students are in severe conditions, they have been arranged to take virtual classes at home while being under treatment," Nhung said.

The same situation was seen at Phan Huy Chu High School, in Dong Da District, where a number of students have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Ngo Thi Thanh, vice rector of the school.

“To ensure the safety for students, we strictly apply epidemic prevention measures upon their entry. They are also requested to wear masks during class time and minimize interactions with students from other classes,” Thanh said. 

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