Around 540,000 kindergartners in all 30 districts of Hanoi returned to school on April 13 after a nearly one-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The resumption of preschooling is the happiest for parents, though it's a bit tearful for the toddlers, who attend classes after a long break.

To ensure safety for students, classes have been disinfected, antiseptic solutions and electronic thermometers have been made available, and teachers have been trained to handle cases of preschool children showing Covid-19 symptoms.

A recent survey by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training showed that some 80% of parents said they were willing to send their children to preschools, showing the high consensus and also the legitimate desire of parents.

“We are counting down the days to send our children to school, and this morning my son was so excited about meeting her teachers and friends,” Chu Minh Tam, a father of a five-year-old boy in Nam Tu Liem District told The Hanoitimes.

“I have seen our son’s school seriously ensure the Covid-19 prevention protocols, teachers have refurbished the school campus and sprayed disinfectant to keep kindergarten pupils safe from not only the novel coronavirus but dengue fever as well,” Tam added.

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung signed on April 8 afternoon an official decision to allow kindergartners to resume in-person class attendance, including semi-boarding classes.

Dung requested the municipal Department of Education and Training to timely update preschools on Covid-19 prevention measures as per the guidelines of the education and health ministries in preparation for the school reopening.

This morning, almost all of Hanoi’s preschools have ensured sufficient medical equipment and guided their kids to follow protocol on preventing Covid-19 when returning to school.

The followings are some images of the first day Hanoi kindergartners come back to school:

Many parents took their children to Yen Hoa Kindergarten in Cau Giay District early this morning. Photo: Ngoc Tu

Van Ho Kindergarten in Hai Ba Trung District set disinfection and body temperature machines for children right at the school gate. Photo: Duy Khanh

A teacher of Quynh Mai Kindergarten in Hai Ba Trung District instructed her pupil to disinfect before entering school. Photo: Diep Quyen

Kindergarteners of Trung Tu Kindergarten in Dong Da District disinfected their hands before entering her school on the morning of April 13. Photo: Tran Long

To make children happy, a teacher of Van Ho Kindergarten in Hai Ba Trung District pretended to be cartoon characters when welcoming their kindergartners. Photo: Duy Khanh

Some children feel strange when going to school. Photo: Duy Khanh

A teacher and her students at Trung Tu Kindergarten in Dong Da District. Photo: Tran Long

Warm-up before starting the first lesson at Son Ca Kindergarten in Cau Giay District on the morning of April 13. Photo: Ngoc Tu