Vietnam would extend the school year 2019-2020 due to the nCoV outbreak, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do told Tuoi Tre Online on February 5, given the current school break to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

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The Ministry of Education and Training has instructed schools to take the initiative in developing teaching plans for students when classes resume.

The ministry is considering extending the school year if students have to take a long break, the deputy minister said.

He noted that the provincial People's Committees will decide on the local school break, based on the actual situation and recommendations of healthcare agencies. The Ministry of Education and Training always gives priority to ensuring students’ health.

The one-week suspension also give schools time to apply measures of sterilization and sanitation for classes and teaching equipment, Do stressed.

So far 61 out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam are closing schools until February 9 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

34 students suspected of being infected with coronavirus in Vietnam's northern province of Dien Bien

According to the Department of Education and Training of Nam Po district (Dien Bien province), 34 local students and two teachers with cough and fever are being monitored. Many of these students have parents returned home from work in China for the Lunar New Year.

Tuoi Tre Online quoted Deputy Minister Nguyen Huu Do as saying that due to current weather, cough and fever are normal; however, they should be isolated.

To ensure the safety for students and schools, the Department of Education and Training of Dien Bien also proposed the provincial People's Committee to declare a school break from February 6. Dien Bien would be the 61st province to allow students to take recess to prevent the new coronavirus as of February 5.

Vietnam declared nCoV a national epidemic on February 1 after a person-to-person transmission case.