At the ceremony announcing the programme (Photo: VNA) The PM made the statement at a ceremony announcingthe 2021-25 National School Health Programme, which was held online at theInternational Convention Centre in Hanoi with the participation ofrepresentatives from 63 cities and provinces.
The programme was launched at a time when Vietnam istaking steps to reopen schools after after closure for months to help contain COVID-19 spread.
It demonstrates the Party’s and the State’s resolve tobetter care for children and students and give them the best possible, the PMsaid, stressing that the Party and State always pay attention to education,training, protecting and caring for health of the public and school health inparticular.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted physicaland mental health of tens of millions of students, both directly andindirectly, Chinh said, noting that thousands of them have been orphaned by thepandemic.
The PM on October 2, 2021 issued a decision approvingthe National School Health Programme, and assigned tasks to ministries,agencies and localities in order to provide comprehensive and synchronous carefor physical and mental health of children and students.
He urged ministries, agencies and localities toclosely coordinate in implementing the programme, and called for the response ofeach school, family, student and individual.
Strong messages should be made, and bold actions areneeded as there remain children without care and protection, and facing threatsto their life and physical and spiritual health, Chinh emphasised.
He also ordered quick and drastic actions to improveschool infrastructure, especially in remote, border and island areas, notingstudents should be equipped with living skills.
The PM stressed the need to improve child nutrition,especially in the areas hit hard by the pandemic, and cut course load, firstlyat the primary level, to help students find joys at schools.
Apart from school reopening, ministries, agencies andlocalities will continue with the vaccination rollout for children aged from5-12 safely, scientifically, suitably and effectively to control the pandemic,he requested.
The Government welcomes and creates optimal conditionsfor domestic and international organisations, businesses and individuals toplay a part in the programme, and other relevant programmes and projects.
Chinh noted his belief that with the sound leadershipof the Party, the close and effective management of the State, the engagementof the entire political system, the support of people nationwide as well asinternational friends, and the response of schools, the National School HealthProgramme will be rolled out successfully, creating breakthroughs in child healthprotection and care.
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoIT) and the Ministry of Health sign a programme on coordination in school health work in 2022-2026. (Photo: VNA) Ensuring all-round developmentof children
The 2021-25 National School Health Programme focuseson promoting education, care, protection and management of students' health.
Its target is to ensure the comprehensive physical andmental development for children at preschools, special education schools, andstudents at primary and high schools.
The national programme has set goals for 80 percent ofschools to have adequate medicines and equipment as regulated by the Ministryof Health, 75 percent of schools to provide enough drinking water and cleanwater for students' activities.
It also sets targets for physical education and sportsactivities in schools.
According to the programme, 80 percent of schools willhave at least one area to ensure necessary equipment and tools for physicaleducation and sports activities as prescribed by the Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism.
All schools will periodically organise sportscompetitions in accordance with the law on physical sports; 100 percent ofprimary and high schools have enough qualified physical teachers who weretrained in professional skills.
Targets were set for school meals, ensuring propernutrition for children, including 100 percent of schools organising lunch atcanteens, ensuring hygiene and food safety according to regulations of theMinistry of Health.
Sixty percent of schools will have milk and dairyproducts in standard school meals according to regulations of the Ministry ofHealth.
School health education must also be a focus.According to the programme, 100 percent of students must be educated abouthealth and improve knowledge about disease prevention and mental health.
Students must be taught about proper nutrition,healthy and safe food.
Fifty percent of high school students must receiveinformation and counselling on mental health and psychology. Education on thecare of children will also be expanded to include teachers, students andparents.
The 2021-25 National School Health Programme alsoclearly outlines the tasks and solutions for the future. One of the importantsolutions is to upgrade the healthcare facilities and equipment in schools.
Specifically, schools need to be equipped with medicalequipment and medicine to ensure the effective implementation of schoolhealthcare work, meeting the requirements of disease prevention and controlespecially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In which, schools will install tables and chairssuitable for students' height, especially children with disabilities; buildingor repairing clean water works, and sanitation facilities in schools.
The health and education sectors will also be workingto strengthen their inspection of school healthcare including food safety,dental care, optical care and first aid capabilities.
For disadvantaged, remote and mountainous, ethnicminority areas, the Government will give priority and promote the improvementof medical equipment to ensure conditions for teaching and learning, and schoolmeals.
Another major solution is to improve the quality ofschool health workers.
According to the programme, schools are suggested toarrange full-time or part-time health staff, even if they are not on theschool's payroll, to carry out school health work in accordance with thespecific conditions of each locality and each school.
In addition, schools need to renovate physicaleducation and school sports activities, encourage the development of swimming,football and ethnic sports suitable to the characteristics of each region.
They will effectively deploy school sports activities suitableto students' interests and ages, as well as organising school-level sportstournaments.
Funding will come from the State budget, and lawfulrevenue of schools, as well as support from domestic and social organisationsand individuals./.
VNA
