Many parents in Hanoi have expressed hopes that local schools would soon reopen although local schoolchildren have yet to receive vaccines against Covid-19.
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Le Hong Phuong in Ba Dinh District has two children in grades seven and nine. She said that her children have become depressed with staying home for too long.
"Hanoi has reopened most activities thanks to the high vaccination coverage among adults and it seems unfair when we have returned to normal life but the children are still kept at home," she said. "I think that schools can reopen now while waiting for the vaccination as many children of my friends and relatives in HCM City were infected with Covid-19 but they showed none or minor symptoms and recovered quickly.
Phuong said that she has taken her children to many public places like bookstores, supermarkets or restaurants.
"It's unfair we keep them at home for too long," she said. "They have an even higher need to go out and meet and play with others than we do."
Nguyen Ngoc Anh in Hai Ba Trung District also said that he really wants schools to reopen right now.
“I've found that my 17-year-old son has become a good online game player after a long time studying online, and my 12-year-old daughter often chats with friends or watches films on Youtube during the online classes," he said. "Now we have returned to work at offices and it is not safe letting them stay home without supervision from adults."
A report released by director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, Tran The Cuong, at a Tuesday meeting with deputy PM Vu Duc Dam said that as many as 78.50% of parents in Hanoi want their children to return to school.
Cuong said that Hanoi now has a total of 3.2 million students and the Covid-19 vaccination rate among teachers and other school staff has so far reached 98.50%.
The Hanoi People's Committee has decided to allow schools in some suburban districts and townships to reopen from November 8.
Students in grades 5, 6, 9, 10 and 12, from the city's 18 suburban districts and townships, will be the first to return to school. The remaining grades, and students from the inner city, will continue learning online. Kindergartens will remain closed too.