Da Nang outbreak prompts school closures – including OneSky’s Early Learning Center

Schools close in central Vietnam city as 99 days without Covid-19 transmission ends.

 The Vietnamese Government announced on July 26 that schools, including pre-schools, are to be closed again in Da Nang following a new outbreak of Covid-19.

The closures will impact the OneSky Early Learning Center (ELC) in Da Nang which cares for over 250 children of rural migrants working in the surrounding factory zone. It’s understood factories can continue to operate with social distancing measures in place.

The ELC reopened on 11 May after closing in February during the first virus outbreak. During this time, many parents struggled to provide childcare and one in three children were taken back to countryside homes to be cared for by extended family.

The ELC recently celebrated the graduation of 55 students on 10 July. Schools are now closed until further notice.

“We have been lucky to have the past two months with the children,” said OneSky Vietnam Program Director Hien Vo. “There are millions across the world who have not been so fortunate.

“We are experienced in this situation now and we’ll continue to do all we can to reach out to children and parents. We must keep everyone safe and limit the spread.”

During the first three-month lockdown, OneSky kept all ELC staff fully employed and will do the same this time. In the absence of students, ELC caregivers will assist families with hygiene advice, online support and suggested activities to entertain children and reduce anxiety.

The closure of the ELC adds significant stress to migrant worker families who must now find alternative care for their children. Some may be forced to give up factory shifts or return to rural villages with their children. Childcare during Covid-19 is a global issue and felt all the more by marginalized families living paycheck to paycheck.

The ELC was opened in 2017 and cares for children from 6 months to 6 years old. OneSky’s work in Vietnam since 2017 has impacted 14,556 children and reached 790 caregivers.