Overseas students in Shanghai are having classes as normal at local kindergartens, primary schools and high schools, as the city's international schools that had suspended classes earlier this month have now returned to normal, officials with the international exchange department of Shanghai Educational Commission said yesterday.

Four schools in Shanghai open to overseas students had closed in early April due to SARS, out of concern that schools, which often stage large public gatherings, are vulnerable to the deadly virus, according to officials.

In response to the closures, the city's educational officials inspected the four schools and ensured them that they could resume classes from April 14 based on effective prevention measures. 
They have also visited all other international schools in the city and persuaded them to continue normal classes.

In Shanghai, there are altogether 19 international schools and five international divisions of local schools that are open to foreign children. In these schools, there are more than 9,000 students from 40-plus countries and regions.

To help train school health officers, the local education commission has invited experts from the city's disease prevention and control center to give a lecture on respiratory diseases to the health officers with these schools, the officials added.