Nguyen Van Hieu, deputy director of its Department of Education and Training, revealed the plan at a meeting Thursday, saying the People’s Committee is expected to make a final decision next week.

A number of schools are serving as Covid quarantine, treatment and vaccination facilities.

The city has 1.74 million school students.

The Ministry of Education and Training on August 4 issued the schedule for the new year, with schools beginning on August 23 for first graders and September 1 for others.

But education minister Nguyen Kim Son said at the meeting Thursday that localities could be flexible with the schedule, and resume regular classes after Covid is controlled.

At least 22 localities have announced plans for the school year that adhere to the ministry’s timeframe, including Binh Duong Province, the second worst hit in the country after HCMC.

Many expect to have online classes for the first one or two months.

The school year normally starts in mid-August after three months of summer vacations.