The opening ceremonies of the 2021-22 school year took place in 57 out of 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam on Sunday morning, most of which were organized virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021-22 academic year is considered a special school year as it begins amidst the complicated developments of the pandemic, while the opening ceremonies were held in various forms depending on the situation in each locality.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the ceremony was organized at Le Hong Phong High School and was aired on HTV9 and HTV4 channels, as well as the YouTube channel of HTV.
The event was attended by chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai, some other high-ranking officials, and several students and teachers.
Students stand in silent homage to people who have died of COVID-19 during a school year opening ceremony at Le Hong Phong High School in Ho Chi Minh City, September 5, 2021. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre
Similarly, the school year opening ceremony in Hanoi was organized at Trung Vuong Middle School with a limited number of attendees. The event was aired on VTV and several online platforms.
In such localities as Phu Yen, Can Tho, Nghe An, where the COVID-19 pandemic is still serious, the ceremonies were live-streamed on YouTube or Facebook depending on the plan of each school.
The opening ceremony of the 2021-22 school year is organized without any attendee at Nguyen Sieu School in Hanoi, September 5, 2021 in this supplies photo.
Meanwhile, authorities in the northern province of Bac Giang have allowed such an event to be organized in the traditional way as the province has been able to put the pandemic under control.
To prevent the spread of the virus, the number of students participating in the ceremony at each school must not exceed 100, while a safe distance must also be kept between each of them.
A first grader attends a virtual school year opening ceremony in Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: Thu Huong / Tuoi Tre
The same method was also applied in Hai Phong, Phu Tho, Dak Nong, and some other localities at low risk of COVID-19 transmission.
The ceremonies took place with a limited number of attendees and only lasted for 30-35 minutes.
A young girl attends a school year opening ceremony at her home in Da Nang City, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: D.C. / Tuoi Tre
Vietnam had documented 511,170 COVID-19 cases by Sunday morning, with 282,516 recoveries and 12,793 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.
The country has recorded 506,912 local infections in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities since the fourth wave started on April 27.
Ho Chi Minh City tops the table with 245,188 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 128,893, Dong Nai Province with 27,306, Long An Province with 24,329, and Tien Giang Province with 10,438.
Students attend a school year opening ceremony in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre
Students attend a school year opening ceremony in Dak Nong Province, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: Duong Phong / Tuoi Tre
A school year opening ceremony at an elementary school in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: Vinh Ha / Tuoi Tre
Students attend a school year opening ceremony inside their classroom in Dien Bien Province, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: N.Thuy / Tuoi Tre
Parents take their children to an elementary school in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, September 5, 2021. Photo: Doan Hoa / Tuoi Tre
(Source: Tuổi trẻ news, link)