Phu Yen Newspaper interviewed Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training Pham Huy Van about the above issue.

Mr. Pham Huy Van

* What is the cause of the tragic drowning of 6 students in the province in less than a school year, sir?

- Based on the actual situation, every year, from March to the end of summer vacation is the time when many tragic drowning incidents occur. Therefore, right from the beginning of the school year, the Department of Education and Training has issued many documents directing units and schools to strengthen measures to prevent drowning for children and students.

On March 15, 2025, four students from Krong Pa Primary and Secondary School (Son Hoa District) went fishing in the Ba River in Cho Village, Krong Pa Commune, then went swimming. Unfortunately, all four of them drowned.

In early April 2025, a student from Tran Phu High School (Tuy An district) went swimming in the sea and drowned.

Recently, a 7th grade student at Hoang Hoa Tham Secondary School drowned while playing with a group of friends at Hoc Ram Lake. The reason is partly because the children are active and like to explore but do not know how to swim or have just learned how to swim, and do not know how to protect themselves when encountering dangerous situations in water, especially at beaches, rivers, streams and lakes that pose many potential safety risks; meanwhile, parents do not pay enough attention and are unable to protect their children...

* Faced with the above situation, what measures has the Department of Education and Training taken to further strengthen drowning prevention, especially during hot weather, holidays, summer...?

- The Department of Education and Training directs units and schools to urgently and seriously implement measures to prevent and combat drowning for children and students in the province. In particular, focusing on organizing dissemination and analyzing the causes of drowning incidents that have occurred so that school administrators, teachers, workers, parents and students know, raise awareness, and implement measures to prevent drowning for children and students.

The Department of Education and Training recommends that schools organize meetings between school leaders, youth organizations, associations, teams, homeroom teachers and Physical Education teachers to reach an agreement before the end of the Physical Education subject, extracurricular activities, experiential activities, collective activities, etc. must be disseminated and reminded to students to raise their awareness of the risk of drowning and preventive measures. Schools must specifically include this content in the lesson plans of Physical Education teachers and the scripts of concentrated activity programs. In addition, schools must review and implement extracurricular activities on life skills, instruct students in water safety skills, and drowning rescue skills at school. The Department of Education and Training also recommends that 100% of schools must have students sign a commitment not to go swimming or wading without an adult; At the same time, schools deploy programs, documents and organize safe swimming lessons and drowning prevention for children and students in educational institutions according to the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training.

To prevent drowning, in addition to propaganda and education on drowning prevention, parents need to equip their children with swimming skills. Photo: HIEU TRUNG

* How has the Department of Education and Training directed units and schools in implementing Official Dispatch 118, dated November 19, 2024 of the Prime Minister and the document of the Provincial People's Committee, dated December 2, 2024 on strengthening drowning prevention for children and students?

- Implementing the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch 118 dated November 19, 2024 and the Provincial People's Committee's directive dated December 2, 2024 on strengthening drowning prevention for children and students, the Department of Education and Training has requested educational institutions to strictly manage and strengthen coordination between schools and families to ensure safety and prevent drowning for children and students. The Department of Education and Training guides and implements many tasks and solutions, educates knowledge and skills on drowning prevention for children and students; promotes the movement of teaching safe swimming to students in schools; propagates and educates to raise awareness and consciousness so that students know and comply with regulations on drowning prevention. Strengthens inspection of the implementation of drowning prevention for students at educational institutions.

In addition, schools need to strengthen coordination with parents to regularly encourage and remind their children to learn how to swim properly and practice swimming in the right places, especially how to handle dangerous situations that may occur in the water. Students are not allowed to practice swimming in dangerous places without supervision. Absolutely do not jump into water without knowing the depth. When swimming, students should go with good swimmers and carry a lifebuoy; only swim in safe areas, when there are adults or lifeguards watching and supervising, and absolutely obey the danger signs...

* Thank you!