Parents debate "Should students be kept home from school when air quality is hazardous?": Expert opinion

The Ministry of Health 's recommendation that "students may be considered to stay home from school if the air quality index is at a hazardous level for three consecutive days" is becoming a topic of concern for parents in Hanoi.

Air quality is at hazardous levels, can students stay home from school?

On January 7, the Department of Medical Environment Management, Ministry of Health issued recommendations on preventing and combating the effects of air pollution on health.

According to the report on air quality developments of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment , in recent times, air pollution in Hanoi has tended to increase, at times the air quality index (AQI value) has reached a bad level.

The Department of Health Environment Management offers solutions when the air quality index is bad, students should limit physical activities or activities that require strenuous effort for a long time.

When the air quality index is at hazardous levels (AQI at 301 - 500), kindergartens, nurseries, and elementary schools may consider allowing students to stay home if the air quality index is at hazardous levels for 3 consecutive days. If school is compulsory, students should avoid outdoor activities, switch to indoor activities, or adjust school hours accordingly.

Information about hazardous air quality that could lead to school closures is a topic of concern for many parents. Some support the closures, while others oppose them.

Air quality in Hanoi on the morning of January 8. Photo: CMH

Ms. Le Thanh Huong, who has two children in primary and preschool, was worried when she heard that the air quality in the past few days in many areas of Hanoi has reached the warning level of bad and very bad, with the index ranging from 151 to over 201 (red and purple scale): "My children are young, so I regularly update the weather and air quality to monitor and prevent for my children. In my opinion, the school should be flexible in deciding whether students go to school or stay home. If parents are not assured, they can keep their children at home to ensure their health."

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Ngo Manh Cuong, whose child is in secondary school, said: "Now that my child has finished the first semester exams, studying is not important. If the air quality is harmful, students should be allowed to stay home from school because their health is important."

However, many other parents believe that a radical solution is needed because students at home and at school are the same. Meanwhile, students who are on leave from school have no one to look after them, especially with the Lunar New Year approaching, when everyone is busy trying to have a complete Tet holiday.

"I think that despite air pollution, life should still be maintained as normal. Just like when Hanoi enters winter, many schools let students stay home when the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius. I think life will always have fluctuations and we have to adapt no matter what the circumstances.

Students are off school, and families with someone to help look after their children at home are fine, but for families with parents working in companies and grandparents in the countryside, looking after children is very difficult. If you hire someone to look after them, they charge quite a high price. Like before, I only left my child at a (spontaneous) daycare facility for a few hours, but when I came to pick him up, the price was up to 200,000 VND. Honestly, not everyone can afford to do that. I think we should let our children go to school and prevent pollution by wearing masks and avoiding outdoor activities," said parent Nguyen Nhat Ha.

"It is right to let students stay home from school"

Talking to PV Dan Viet , Dr. Hoang Duong Tung - Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network said that air pollution affects human health. There need to be long-term, medium-term, short-term solutions, managing each emission source. Recently, there have been solutions such as implementing low emission zones, converting gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles... However, we need to be more determined, raising people's awareness.

According to the World Health Organization, exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. It can also cause skin damage, eye diseases, impact the nervous system, immune system, and affect mental health.

"Up to now, Hanoi has not conducted a comprehensive inventory of air emission sources. However, a synthesis of various inventory studies by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the World Bank and other studies shows that the contribution rate of emission sources to the concentration of primary dust PM2.5 at 11 locations in the capital. Depending on each location, the contribution rate of the sources is different. Traffic sources (including road dust) are the source with the highest contribution (from 58% - 74%), followed by industrial sources (from 14% - 23%), agricultural sources (from 3.4% - 18.9%), domestic sources and waste incineration sources have the lowest contribution rate," Mr. Tung emphasized.

For kindergartens, nurseries, and primary schools, it is possible to consider letting students stay home from school if the air quality index is at a hazardous level for 3 consecutive days, Mr. Tung said, this is a measure that needs to be taken into account. Specifically, letting some schools stay home on polluted days is a measure stipulated in Decree 05/2025/ND-CP amending Decree 08/2022/ND-CP detailing the Law on Environmental Protection issued on January 6, 2025.

"However, in my opinion, we need to research which schools and what plans need to be carefully prepared, and do propaganda work to raise awareness so that this can be carried out better. I think we must have a plan to coordinate with parents so that they understand that the goal of their children's health is paramount. If there is research and evidence to show the impact of air pollution, parents will be willing to do it for their children's health," Mr. Tung analyzed.

Discussing this issue, MSc. Dr. Doan Du Manh, a member of the Vietnam Vascular Disease Association, said that for kindergartens, nurseries, and primary schools, it is possible to consider letting students stay home from school if the air quality index is at a hazardous level for 3 days.

Dr. Manh stated that children and the elderly are two groups that are susceptible to respiratory failure and acute respiratory diseases. In this polluted air, these two groups, including pregnant women, should not go outside.

"The above subjects are susceptible to diseases, in addition to respiratory failure, they are also susceptible to outbreaks of viruses such as influenza A because their immune systems are weakened in this polluted weather, but when will we stop because of the pollution for many days now? I think the city must have a plan to deal with construction sites, factories and waste burning," Dr. Manh shared.

In response to the question of whether students can take a day off from school when air quality is at a hazardous level, on the morning of January 8, speaking with a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, Mr. Le Ngoc Hoa, Chief of Office of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said: "The Professional Department is consulting with the Board of Directors on this issue according to regulations."

Source: https://danviet.vn/phu-huynh-tranh-cai-co-nen-cho-hoc-sinh-nghi-hoc-khi-chat-luong-khong-khi-nguy-hai-chuyen-gia-y-kien-20250108075342074.htm