Urgently restore school facilities to ensure teaching and learning

All the desks, chairs, books, and school supplies were submerged in floodwater. When the water receded, the school yard and classrooms were covered in mud, many items were moldy and damaged.

Teachers at An Dinh Kindergarten cleaned the school after the flood.

Teachers at An Dinh Kindergarten (Tuy An Bac commune) clean up the school after the flood.

As soon as the weather stabilized, schools mobilized all staff, teachers, employees, and local youth union members to clean up. Everyone scooped up mud, cleaned the schoolyard, washed tables and chairs, and dried documents and learning tools. The work was carried out urgently as soon as the floodwaters receded, ensuring that it was completed as soon as possible so that the children could return to school.

Books are taken out to dry at Phu Mo Primary School (Phu Mo commune).

Ms. Dang Thi Tuyet Nhung, Vice Principal of An Dinh Kindergarten (Tuy An Bac Commune) said that the school has a main campus in Dinh Trung 2 village and two satellite campuses in Phong Hau and Phong Nien villages. During the flood on the night of November 6, the main campus was flooded nearly 2 meters, and the two satellite campuses were flooded more than 2 meters.

After the flood waters receded, the school mobilized all staff and teachers to clean up mud and trash, and washed usable tables, chairs, and other equipment so that students could return to school soon.

“The school has two refrigerators and the teachers’ desks damaged. All the outdoor toys, the library corner, etc. are also damaged. The staff and teachers are working hard to clean up so that the students do not have to miss a long time of school, affecting the program. It is likely that the school will welcome the children back to class in two days,” said Ms. Dang Thi Tuyet Nhung.

Teachers of Xuan Son Bac Primary and Secondary School pushed the thick layer of mud out to clean the classroom.

The same situation also occurred at many schools in Dong Xuan and Phu Mo communes... where prolonged rain and floods made it difficult to preserve equipment.

At Phu Mo Primary School, floodwaters rose rapidly and reached the ceilings of classrooms, damaging all teaching equipment and completely wetting textbooks.

Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa, the school's principal, choked up: "On the night of November 6, I and 3 teachers stayed at the school. At 10 p.m. the same day, the floodwaters rose very quickly, strong winds flooded the ceilings of many classrooms. As the water rose, we were helpless when we saw school supplies and desks submerged in water. We are currently mobilizing all staff and teachers in the school to clean up desks, chairs, mud, trash, and dry books and notebooks... The school hopes to soon receive support from all levels of the industry and benefactors so that the school can quickly overcome the consequences and buy back books and notebooks for students to return to school."

Authorities brought mechanical equipment to help schools clean up fallen trees.

Currently, schools are also dismantling equipment for repair, drying, and disinfection to ensure safety before students return. At Xuan Son Bac Primary and Secondary School (Dong Xuan Commune), teachers are racing against time to bring 343 students back to class on time, as their midterm exams are approaching.

The school yard and classrooms that were flooded with mud have gradually been cleaned up. Desks and chairs have been moved outside to be washed and wiped down, and teaching materials have been dried. Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, the school principal, said: "The classrooms have basically been cleaned up, and students will return to school next Monday."

Secretary of the Dong Xuan Commune Party Committee Nguyen Trung Tam said: “The entire commune has 12 schools from kindergarten to high school that were flooded. The commune has prioritized arranging youth forces, militia, police... to support the schools in overcoming the consequences. As of the afternoon of November 8, the schools have restored 80% of their work and will complete the recovery on November 9 so that they can start teaching on November 10.”

In response to the damage caused by storm No. 13, the Department of Education and Training has directed units and schools to make efforts to repair and clean up fallen trees, corrugated iron roofs, broken glass, etc.; clean up mud and dirt in educational facilities. Quickly clean schoolyards, classrooms, kitchen areas, dormitories, etc. to ensure a clean and airy environment before welcoming students back. At the same time, coordinate with local health forces to deploy disease prevention measures after storms and floods.

According to statistics from the Department of Education and Training, as of 6:30 a.m. on November 8, the entire education sector recorded 226 units suffering widespread damage. 73 school fences/gates were damaged, many classrooms had their roofs blown off and leaked, 1,024 trees were broken, causing traffic jams and increasing safety risks, 654 sets of desks and chairs and 176 sets of computers were damaged due to flooding and breakage... The total estimated damage to facilities, infrastructure and teaching equipment is up to nearly 23 billion VND.

"For severely damaged items that require long-term repair plans, the Department also recommends that schools adjust their education plans and organize make-up classes to ensure the first semester program is completed on schedule. Schools should urgently count the number of books, notebooks, and replacement school supplies for students from policy families, poor households, and households that have suffered heavy losses to have a support plan, with the goal of not letting any student lack books or school supplies when returning to school," said Director of the Department of Education and Training Le Thi Thanh Xuan.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202511/khan-truong-khoi-phuc-co-so-vat-chat-cac-truong-hoc-dam-bao-day-hoc-c8311b0/