Ho Chi Minh City is being affected by the intertropical convergence zone and the strong southwest monsoon, causing many thunderstorms. In the East Sea, a tropical depression is likely to form and strengthen into a storm, making the weather complicated.
During the recent rainstorm and strong gusts of wind, Ho Chi Minh City experienced a number of incidents of fallen and fallen green trees, threatening the safety of students, teachers, staff and school facilities.
Faced with this situation, the Department of Education and Training requests heads of educational institutions to coordinate with specialized agencies in localities to comprehensively review the growth, development and safety assurance capacity of green trees, from roots, trunks, branches to foliage.
For trees at risk of breaking and falling, schools must have timely handling measures. The Department requests priority to be given to cutting down and immediately replacing trees with signs of deep, rotten, leaning or serious damage to the root system.
Schools that need to plant trees in their campuses are required to contact specialized units for advice on suitable types; and at the same time organize periodic inspections, assessments and handling to detect dangerous trees early.
The Department also requests educational institutions to develop plans to coordinate with specialized agencies to periodically review green trees annually, especially at the beginning of the school year and before the rainy and storm season. The early school year inspection must be completed before August 30, and the pre-storm season inspection must be completed before April 30.
Self-inspection of green trees must be carried out regularly. For large trees and ancient trees in the school grounds, units need to coordinate with specialized units to care for and prune them according to proper techniques, both ensuring safety and maintaining the growth capacity of the trees.
In addition, schools must review and replace trees that are not allowed to be planted according to regulations. When planting new trees, schools must comply with the list of urban green trees allowed to be planted by the city, and not plant trees that are prohibited or restricted from planting in schools.
The Department of Education and Training also reminded schools to guide students on safety rules when playing and living in areas with many green trees, especially large trees and ancient trees. Students are not allowed to shelter from rain and sun under large trees, do not climb or gather to play near tree roots when heavy rain and storms occur.
