Hanoi lets schools decide on teaching methods on October 7

In a notice sent to educational establishments in the area on the afternoon of October 6, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training (DET) assigned schools to base on actual weather developments in the area, physical conditions and traffic safety to proactively decide on the form of teaching organization (in-person, online) or adjust the schedule accordingly.

The announcement of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training stated that, according to Official Dispatch 188/CD-TTg dated October 6, 2025 of the Prime Minister and the forecast bulletin at 2:00 p.m. on the same day: Storm No. 11 (Matmo) has weakened into a low-pressure area, but the circulation after the storm continues to cause moderate rain, heavy rain, and in some places very heavy rain and thunderstorms in Hanoi from the afternoon of October 6 to the afternoon of October 7 (rainfall of 40-70mm, in some places over 100mm). During the storm, there may be tornadoes, lightning, strong gusts of wind, causing localized flooding, fallen trees, traffic jams and unsafe travel.

To ensure absolute safety for students, teachers and school facilities, the Department of Education and Training recommends that school principals and heads of units base on actual weather conditions in the area, conditions of facilities and traffic safety to proactively decide on appropriate teaching and learning methods (in-person, online or adjusted timetables); ensuring absolute safety for students and staff, teachers and employees.

Schools base on weather developments and facilities to proactively plan appropriate teaching and learning during storms.

Schools continue to strictly implement the contents of Notice No. 2, especially closely monitoring weather developments; reviewing and clearing drainage systems, schoolyards, cafeterias, and boarding areas; arranging staff to be on duty, updating and promptly reporting on rain and flooding situations that affect teaching and learning activities to the Department of Education and Training for synthesis and handling according to regulations.

Previously, on the afternoon of October 5, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training notified the People's Committees of wards and communes; units and schools under the Department about responding to storm No. 11. To ensure the safety of students and teachers, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training requested units to let students take a day off on October 6 and switch from in-person teaching to online teaching; at the same time, continue to monitor the weather situation in the following days to promptly handle situations flexibly in teaching and learning.

On the morning of October 6, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training issued a notice requesting schools to closely monitor weather developments; proactively and flexibly adjust teaching and learning plans accordingly, ensuring absolute safety for students. In case students come to school, schools must arrange flexible management and teaching to ensure the safety of students and teachers. Immediately after the announcement of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, on the morning of October 6, many kindergartens announced that they would open their doors to welcome students to school directly if parents wanted to send their children.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training's continuous announcements on how to respond to storm No. 11 and its circulation have received many different reactions. Some opinions said that letting students take a break from in-person classes and switch to online classes to "avoid the storm" when the weather is sunny is "wasting a beautiful day", which is both funny and somewhat... unreasonable.

However, many opinions support the policy of letting students stay home from school and switch to online learning when there is a forecast of storms and heavy rain that can cause flooding, as happened on September 30, as a risk prevention response to ensure absolute safety for students because if storms and tornadoes really make landfall and there is no timely response, the consequences can be very serious. "A day off from school is still more bearable than real danger for just an hour. Of course, looking from a normal perspective, the scene of students staying home to avoid storms when the weather is nice makes everyone find it a bit "funny"" - Ms. Le Thuy, a parent in Linh Dam (Hanoi) shared.

Some other opinions said that, in fact, recently, the Hanoi Education sector has encountered many difficulties and confusion when responding to storms. Therefore, in the long term, in addition to relying on weather forecasts, perhaps the Hanoi Department of Education and Training also needs to have more consistent operating principles when responding to storms (such as the regulation that has been implemented for many years that if the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, schools are allowed to proactively allow preschool and primary school students to stay home). On that basis, schools should base on actual weather conditions and existing facilities to adjust teaching and learning plans appropriately to avoid causing widespread disruption to parents and students.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/giao-duc/ha-noi-giao-cac-truong-tu-quyet-dinh-hinh-thuc-day-hoc-trong-ngay-7-10-i783752/