Due to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, most schools shortened their opening ceremonies with only a limited number of students in direct attendance in line with epidemic prevention measures. Other students followed the ceremonies in their classrooms.

Vuong Dinh Hue, Emeritus Teacher and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, beat the drum to open a new academic year at Giang Vo secondary school in Ba Dinh district. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien attended the ceremony at Nguyen Sieu School in Hanoi while Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh was at Le Quy Don High School in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien attends the ceremony at Nguyen Sieu School in Hanoi on September 5, 2020. (Photo: Ngoc Anh/VOV5)

The opening ceremonies in Da Nang city, the current COVID-19 epicenter, were livestreamed or televised. Tran Thi Thuy Ha, Head of the Division for Education and Training in Hai Chau district, Da Nang city, local students will engage in online learning in the first two weeks of the new school year.

“We are happy and touched to begin a new academic year. Online opening ceremonies will bring a lot of surprises to us. No matter how the ceremonies are held, all the teachers want to instill the pride of their schools among students, especially the new comers,” Ha said.

In the central province of Thua Thien Hue, students strictly followed all safety measures - social distancing, checking body temperature, and wearing masks – while attending their opening ceremonies.

Teacher Nguyen Phu Tho, Principal of the Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, told VOV, “We are aware that as long as we strictly follow anti-pandemic measures, we are safe and secured enough to realize our goals this year. We aim to promote ethical education, the passion for teaching and learning, and learning quality in general. We expect our students will win at international competitions this school year.”