On September 17, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training (GDĐT) sent a document to the People's Committees of wards, communes and units and schools directly under the Department on proactively responding to unusual developments of weather and natural disasters.
The Department requests the People's Committees of wards and communes to direct educational institutions in the area; heads of units and schools directly under the Department to focus on deploying plans to prevent and respond promptly to storms, heavy rain and dangerous weather phenomena, in order to ensure the safety of children, students, officials, teachers, staff and property of educational institutions.
Accordingly, schools must regularly update weather forecast information, closely monitor the developments of heavy rain, thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, flooding and dangerous weather phenomena; strictly implement the directions of the Central Government, the city and local authorities. Units maintain information focal points, on-duty regimes and are ready to handle situations when requested.
Based on the actual situation, schools proactively review and implement disaster response plans according to the "4 on-site" motto.
The inspection content includes roofs, walls, gates, signs, glass doors, electrical systems, drainage systems, areas at risk of flooding and landslides; especially pay attention to green trees and branches at risk of breaking and falling. Risks that cannot be handled immediately must be zoned, warned and coordinated with specialized agencies for handling.
The Hanoi Department of Education and Training also requests schools to base on weather developments and directions from competent authorities to proactively adjust the time, form of teaching organization and educational activities. Schools should not organize outdoor activities or collective activities in areas at risk of flooding, landslides, fallen trees or unsafety.
Along with that, the school must maintain an information channel with parents to coordinate management and safe pick-up and drop-off of students; do not let students arbitrarily move through deep flooded areas, fast-flowing water or areas that have been warned of danger.
For educational institutions with boarding students, the Department requires strict management of students, preparation of care plans, accommodation, drinking water, food, and essential conditions in case students have to stay at school due to dangerous weather. The handover and relocation of students must have close coordination between schools and families, ensuring safety.
Schools are also required to proactively plan to protect and move assets, machinery, equipment, tables, chairs, records, and documents to safe places; protect classrooms, warehouses, equipment rooms and areas prone to flooding. When flooding, power outages or power incidents occur, dangerous areas must be identified and only handled when safety conditions are ensured.
After storms and floods, units urgently inspect the entire campus, works, green trees, power sources, water sources, environmental sanitation and disease prevention and control conditions. The Department reminds units to only organize for students to return to school when basic conditions have been ensured, and at the same time promptly clean up, overcome flooding and handle arising risks.
