Around 600,000 kindergartners in Hanoi will come back to school tomorrow [April 13] and most of the preschools in the capital city have prepared to welcome the children.

“In the past few days, including Hung Kings holiday, our school has mobilized teachers and some parents to clean and sanitize classrooms as well as learning tools to help children have a safe environment and be more receptive about returning to school,” Pham Thi Ngan, vice-principal of Anh Sao Kindergarten in Cau Giay District, told The Hanoi Times.

According to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training’s survey, 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.

“My child was confined to the house for a long time. Parents without caregivers have to take turns caring for them, even bringing their children to their work. Toddlers who stay at home for too long are easy to fall into smartphone addiction. Therefore, we are counting down the days to send our children to school,” said Trinh Anh Dung, a father of a three-year-old girl in Nam Tu Liem district.

Deputy Head of Tay Ho District's Department of Education and Training Le Thi Nga shared with The Hanoi Times via phone that all 32 kindergartens in the district are ready to reopen for more than 8,300 preschoolers.

“The kindergartens will strictly ensure the Covid-19 prevention protocols. Days before the reopening, they have refurbished the school campus and sprayed disinfectant to prevent not only coronavirus but dengue fever as well,” Nga said.

Last Friday, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Chu Xuan Dung signed a decision to allow kindergarteners in all of the capital’s 30 districts and towns to resume direct class attendance after staying home for nearly one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The committee asked the local education department to coordinate with the health department to regularly update and follow related regulations to ensure Covid-19 prevention and control at schools.

Local authorities of districts and towns are entrusted with increasing supervision and inspection over the implementation of Covid-19 prevention and control measures at schools.

Hanoi is the last locality among 63 provinces and cities nationwide to allow kindergartens to resume in-person learning. Pupils from first to sixth grade in the city returned to school on April 6, with attendance of nearly 94%, according to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training.

If the Covid-19 situation worsens and in-person learning is not safe, the local Steering Committees for Covid-19 Prevention and Control would consider suspending it.

The followings are some images of preschools preparing for welcoming children tomorrow:

Teachers of Anh Sao Kindergarten in Cau Giay District clean the playground for welcoming their pupils. Photo: Van Nhi

Every corner of the school campus is thoroughly cleaned. Photo: Van Nhi

Leaders of Anh Sao Kindergarten check medicine and medical equipment in the school's medical room. Photo: Cong Trinh

Teachers of Yen Hoa Kindergarten in Cau Giay District wash blankets and mats for children's short break at noon. Photo: Cong Trinh

Vice-Chairman of the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee Nguyen Quoc Hoan visits preschools in the district about preparing to welcome children. Photo: Duong Tung

The playground is carefully cleaned before welcoming children to school. Photo: Nam Bac

Staff and teachers of Hien Giang Kindergarten in Hanoi’s outskirt district of Thuong Tin clean the schoolyard so that children can play. Photo: Huu Hai

Staff and teachers of Hien Giang Kindergarten wash pots, bowls, and chopsticks to prepare lunch for their pupils. Photo: Huu Hai