On 3/9, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training issued guidelines for schools preparing for the 2025-2026 academic year opening ceremonies.

The department and all city schools are declining flowers from agencies, businesses, and parents. Schools are instructed to communicate this policy to parents and partners promptly.

Instead of flowers and gifts, the department encourages donations to school scholarship funds or to aid those affected by typhoons 4 and 5 in the northern mountainous and midland provinces, and north-central coast.

The department also requested schools limit decorative fresh flowers for stages, podiums, and gates, using them only when essential and avoiding extravagance.

Last week, Minh Khai Primary School in Ben Thanh ward and Duong Van Thi High School in Tang Nhon Phu ward sent similar letters to parents and partners.

At a conference on 27/8 reviewing the past school year and outlining plans for the new one, Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department, urged the city's education sector to support those affected by the floods. The donation period extends until 9/9.

Students and teachers of Thanh An Primary School during the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year on the only island commune of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T. Binh

Students and teachers of Thanh An Primary School during the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year on the only island commune of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T. Binh

Ho Chi Minh City, after its merger, has nearly 2.6 million students in over 3,500 schools, the largest system in the country.

The opening ceremony on the morning of 5/9 coincides with several national anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of the Ministry of National Education (now the Ministry of Education and Training).

All schools will connect online to the ministry's ceremony at the National Convention Center (Hanoi).

Le Nguyen