On December 17, Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee issued a document to inspect and handle VTV24's feedback on meals for students at Hoang Thu Pho 1 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Bac Ha district).

According to the document, on the afternoon of December 16, the program Chuyen Dong 24h broadcast on VTV1 channel reported "Unusual boarding meals in the highlands", reflecting on the situation of meals for students at Hoang Thu Pho 1 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities not ensuring the quantity according to the prescribed quota, and the food was of poor quality.

Regarding this matter, the Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee assigned the People's Committee of Bac Ha district to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Education and Training and relevant units to urgently inspect and clarify the above reflection content, seriously handle violations against collectives and individuals (if any) according to the provisions of law, and report to the Provincial People's Committee before 4:00 p.m. on December 17.

The leaders of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Education and Training to preside over and coordinate with the People's Committees of districts, towns and cities to review the organization of meals for boarding and semi-boarding students and the implementation of other policies for students at educational institutions under their management.

The Department of Education and Training of Lao Cai province is also assigned to direct the strict implementation of regulations on financial management, assets, procurement of educational equipment and regulations on teachers' ethics; strengthen state management of education; actively build a safe, healthy and friendly educational environment.

Previously, according to the reflection of Chuyen Dong 24h, the program's hotline continuously received reflections from teachers of Hoang Thu Pho 1 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (in Bac Ha district, Lao Cai) about the situation of boarding meals not ensuring quality, even showing signs of being cut.

Accordingly, each tray has 11 children competing for 2 packages of instant noodles cooked thinly with rice. The menu and financial disclosure clearly state that 174 boarding students are entitled to a breakfast of 1 package of instant noodles and 1 egg each. However, according to the person in charge of cooking, the situation of food shortage for students often occurs.

Breakfast was inadequate in quantity, lunch and dinner were not much better as each 11-person plate only had a small amount of chopped ham and a pot of soup. However, the school principal thought that this was enough.

Even cheap things like vegetables for the students to eat were spoiled. Many students were mobilized to the kitchen to pick out the rotten vegetables, but there was not much edible food left.

There was not enough food in terms of both quality and quantity, and even a delicate matter like toilet paper was not enough. So many students in the school had the initiative to use chayote leaves, which were readily available in the school yard, instead of paper.

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