Preventing the harmful effects of tobacco in schools: Need for coordinated participation from many sides

Vietnam Women's Newspaper had an interview with Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan, Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training , about the results achieved through the efforts of the whole sector to contribute to raising awareness and also building a healthy school environment, protecting the health of staff, teachers and students.

+ Could you tell us about the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in schools of Nghe An Department of Education and Training in recent times?

- Since the Law on Prevention and Control of Child Abuse and Child Abuse took effect from May 1, 2013, the direction has been implemented in a systematic and drastic manner to ensure the most effective implementation of the Law on Prevention and Control of Child Abuse and Child Abuse. Every year, right from the beginning of the school year, the Department has promptly issued documents directing and guiding the integration of child abuse and child abuse into school health work.

The Department also issued separate plans on PCTHTL of the industry, and decided to establish (or consolidate) the Steering Committee for school health work to carry out this task. Documents urging and thoroughly implementing the task are also issued regularly.

In particular, the sector has focused on educating all cadres, civil servants, public employees, teachers and students about not smoking at work and school. Activities to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco are integrated into meetings and activities of agencies and units.

To create a clear smoke-free environment, "No Smoking" signs are posted in easily visible locations such as hallways, offices, meeting rooms, auditoriums and other prohibited areas. Units must also self-check the implementation of the complete smoking ban on school premises, and the ban on the sale of tobacco in canteens, cafeterias and dormitories.

+ With the synchronous implementation of PCTHTL measures in the educational environment, what results have been achieved ?

- Along with the direction, the propaganda and dissemination of knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco have also been promoted and diversified. Units in the industry have organized propaganda and dissemination of the provisions of the Law on Tobacco Control.

The propaganda content focuses on building a smoke-free environment in educational institutions and workplaces, the rights of non-smokers and the responsibilities of smokers.

Every year, units hang banners with messages in response to World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31) according to the instructions of the health sector.

Tobacco Control Law is integrated into extracurricular activities, morning meetings, flag salutes and other educational activities. Intensive training sessions on tobacco harm prevention are also organized for school health workers and Youth Union Secretaries.

Legal documents and propaganda content about the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco, shisha... are posted on the website and document management software system of the unit.

After more than 10 years of implementing the Law, the awareness and actions of cadres, teachers and students in the entire Education and Training sector of Nghe An have changed positively. 100% of cadres and teachers are fully aware of the harmful effects of tobacco. Most cadres, civil servants and employees at the Department and its affiliated units do not smoke.

Many officials, teachers and students have been encouraged to quit smoking completely. 100% of schools have established a Tobacco Control Steering Committee (or integrated into the School Health Steering Committee). Similarly, 100% of schools are committed to building a smoke-free environment.

+ What difficulties did Nghe An Education and Training sector face in the process of implementing propaganda work on PCTHTL?

- Despite many successes, the work of preventing and combating tobacco harms in the education and training sector still faces many difficulties and challenges. Specifically, funding for tobacco harm prevention activities is not yet available, mainly integrated into the career budget, leading to propaganda not being as in-depth and diverse as organizing competitions or producing specialized documents.

The widespread and cheap sale of cigarettes in cafes, restaurants and other public places makes it easy for people to access, making it difficult to quit and reducing smoking rates.

In addition, compliance with the Law in some units is still low. A number of cadres, civil servants and public employees still smoke in public places. Meanwhile, all cadres working on PCTHTL are part-time, so the time available for activities is limited.

For students, the reality is that when they are at school, the school monitors and supervises them, and when they are at home, their parents monitor and supervise them. However, the time they spend in society is beyond the control of the school and family.

Therefore, implementing anti-bullying activities in schools is one of the tasks that need to be carried out regularly; it is necessary to combine education and propaganda, use sanctions according to regulations and have close coordination between departments, branches and mass organizations.

+ What suggestions do you have to make the PCTHTL work in the education sector more effective in the coming time?

- To implement PCTHTL work in schools more effectively, in the coming time, the Department of Education and Training will continue to focus on directing and requiring educational institutions to implement a number of key tasks such as:

Continue to strengthen close coordination with families and local organizations and unions to propagate and mobilize parents and relatives of students to set an example of not smoking.

Strengthen the implementation of regulations prohibiting smoking in schools by including the content of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco in the plan for implementing general educational tasks of each school year; include regulations prohibiting smoking in the workplace in school regulations;

Organize the construction of smoke-free schools; effectively prohibit staff, teachers and students from smoking on school grounds. At the same time, make the implementation of the no-smoking policy in schools one of the criteria for evaluating annual emulation and reward titles.

For students, through integrated lessons and direct communication sessions, the Department of Education and Training requires that after accessing useful information and knowledge about the harmful effects of smoking, they adjust their own habits and behaviors to stay away from cigarette smoke.

At the same time, I hope you will actively participate in propagating to your relatives and friends about the harmful effects of smoking with the ultimate goal of us joining hands to build a clean, smoke-free environment.

We also propose that there should be more resolute participation from all levels of government, police agencies and market management teams to create a combined strength and improve work efficiency. We propose to supplement the operating budget norms according to the functions and tasks of the industry.

It is recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training regularly pay attention to organizing training courses on tobacco harm prevention for those working in tobacco harm prevention in schools.

+ Thank you very much!

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/phong-chong-tac-hai-cua-thuoc-la-trong-nha-truong-can-su-vao-cuoc-dong-bo-tu-nhieu-phia-20250823072833829.htm