Ho Chi Minh City: Heavy rain and high tides may force school principals to switch to online learning.

In recent days, Ho Chi Minh City has experienced continuous heavy rain during school hours, both when students arrive at and leave school. The heavy rain, combined with high tides, has caused severe flooding on many roads, with water levels reaching waist-high in some areas.

Rain during school dismissal times also causes traffic jams on many roads, making commuting difficult for students and parents. Many students said that some days they didn't get home until 9 PM, drenched in rain and floodwater.

Online classes can be held during heavy rain.

According to the Southern Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Station, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to experience heavy rain in the late afternoon and evening. On October 5th and 6th, the rain is forecast to increase in both area and intensity due to the low-pressure trough strengthening into a tropical convergence zone.

Many parents are worried that students having to travel in heavy rain and prolonged flooding will affect their health. Notably, heavy rain also poses a safety risk, as there have been recent incidents of trees falling.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper on the morning of October 3rd, Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that Circular 09 of the Ministry of Education and Training has stipulated the management and organization of online teaching and learning in general education institutions.

Accordingly, the head of the general education institution decides on the form of online teaching and support for in-person teaching. The school may organize online teaching as a substitute for in-person teaching during the time students cannot attend school due to force majeure reasons.

"Therefore, based on the curriculum content, depending on the local weather conditions and the school's timetable, school principals have the right to proactively organize appropriate learning methods."

"Given the unpredictable weather conditions, heavy rain, high tides, and flooding on the roads like in recent days, the principal may organize online learning for students," Mr. Quoc said.

According to him, online teaching materials are developed in accordance with the general education curriculum and updated on each educational institution's online learning system as prescribed.

Ensuring student safety

Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training had sent a document to educational institutions in the area regarding ensuring the safety of students on their way to school.

The Department requests that schools coordinate with relevant authorities to review routes and areas frequently used by students that pose safety risks, and then develop appropriate plans for each location and group of high-risk students. Students should not be allowed to cross dangerous areas on their own until safety is ensured.

In critical areas, the school coordinates with local authorities, the police, the military, and other relevant units to guide and support students.

The Department also requested the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones to review the need for repair and investment in bridges, roads, and other transportation infrastructure serving students' access to school, prioritizing those in urgent need.

For areas where immediate solutions are not possible, measures such as warning systems, traffic diversion, support, or transportation for students are needed to prevent them from missing school due to transportation difficulties.

Local authorities and schools are required to strengthen monitoring of weather, natural disasters, and traffic conditions; and maintain regular communication between schools, local authorities, and parents.

The Department also requested schools to strengthen the dissemination and education of safe traffic participation skills, accident prevention, drowning prevention, and response to dangerous situations on the way to school. The content should be practical and appropriate to each locality, especially coastal areas, islands, rivers, and lakes.