Twenty three localities allow students back to school  17:06                                  There are 23 provinces and cities across the country allowing students back to school, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), following closure due to COVID-19 control measures.  The 1st graders of Ham Nghi Primary School in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri Province, back in school. Fifteen localities are performing a combination of face-to-face, online and television learning while 25 others continue to teach online and via television. The 23 provinces and cities that students can go to school are; Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Hai Phong, Hoa Binh, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai, Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Son La and Lang Son. The 15 localities which are applying a combination of learning are Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dak Lak, Ninh Thuan, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, Phu Tho, HCM City, Ben Tre, Bac Ninh, Lam Dong, Nghe An, Hai Duong, Binh Dinh, Quang Tri and Dak Nong. The MoET has sent an official dispatch requesting that provincial authorities and cities urgently review the conditions for allowing students to be back to school. The localities must assess the pandemic level in districts, wards and villages to decide on when to re-open schools. Localities do not need to wait for the whole province or city to control the virus before reopening to students.  However, many localities are still considering risk factors, so they have not yet decided on an exact time for students to go back to school. In addition, the MoET has also asked the local-level education sector to be proactive and ready to coordinate vaccination for students against COVID-19. The MoET will discuss with the Ministry of Health the specific implementation guidelines for the vaccination. The MoET recommends that educational institutions disseminate information on the benefits of vaccination as a means to safely bring children back to school. The MoET requested educational institutions make lists of students and coordinate with the local health sector to organise vaccinations, as well as to set up a database on student immunisation. Vietnam News