Worries about school opening day in Mu Cang Chai

• Early floods threaten Mekong rice fields
• Mu Cang Chai district ravaged by heavy flooding
• Dozens killed or missing in overnight rains and floods in Northwestern provinces

Heavy downpours during the night of August 2 and early morning of August 3 caused flashfloods, which left dozens missing and dead in Northwestern provinces. In Mu Cang Chai town, the missing who are mainly school-aged children have not yet been found.

Two days after the flooding, the primary and secondary school of Mu Cang Chai town was completely destroyed. All classrooms on the first floor were submerged with a meter of mud, and facilities and teaching aids were severely damaged.

Mrs. Pham Thi Thuy - Principal of the primary and secondary school of Mu Cang Chai town shared with reporters of the Public Security Newspaper, “We regretted 15 sets of new computers the most. Students will go to school with lots of difficulties.” 

As planned, this school will move to a new location for the next academic year, just nearly 1 km away from the old school. There will be 19 classes from grade 1 to grade 9 to accommodate 560 students in total. The school open day is coming, but the school still needs nearly 140 sets of desks and chairs, and blankets for students.

She also added that Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha visited and promised to donate a new computer room to the school in the new academic year.

Currently, the school has been mobilizing generous organizations and people to support them in equipping new facilities and helping students go to school on schedule. 

Not far away from the primary and secondary school of Mu Cang Chai town, the Orchid Kindergarten was also devastated. As of August 6, public security and military forces in the region were still cleaning up this kindergarten.

Head of the Orchid Kindergarten Doan Thi Phuc stated that a child – Le Yen Nhi (aged 5) was swept away by the floods. On August 6, her body was found in the hydro-power reservoir.

What makes Mrs. Phuc most worried now is the new academic year is coming, but the school is still like a pile of rubble. In this situation, the school cannot open.

In addition, functional forces still support Lao Chai primary school and Kim Noi primary and secondary school to overcome the bad consequences.

Head of the Education and Training Division of Mu Cang Chai district Hoang Van Dong announced that: "In collaboration with generous organizations, we has been visiting and supporting teachers' families affected by flashfloods as well as schools in the district."

Photos for reference.