Warning of the danger of cigarettes quietly creeping into the school environment

Extracurricular program to propagate the harmful effects of tobacco, drugs and prevent school violence at Nong Trang Secondary School, Nong Trang Ward, Phu Tho Province. (Photo: THAO MY)

In recent years, the Ministry of Education and Training has issued many documents directing and guiding educational institutions to build smoke-free schools, integrating anti-tobacco content into subjects; at the same time, strengthening communication and propaganda through press channels and social networks. However, besides the positive results, challenges remain as new generation tobacco products are increasingly sophisticated, hitting students' curiosity and desire to express themselves. Management and supervision in the school environment, especially at high school and university levels, still have gaps that need to be addressed and overcome.

Emphasizing the need to build a healthy school environment, with the cooperation of the school, parents and students, Vice Principal of Dong Da Secondary School (Hanoi), Ms. Dao Thi Cuc, said: Tobacco use is spreading among young people with a high rate of cigarette experimentation among students aged 13-15. This situation not only affects health but also negatively impacts personality and the school environment. In this situation, the school has deployed many rich and close forms of communication such as making clips, drawing pictures, building a smoke-free environment... Education content on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco is integrated into subjects; launching the movement "Students say no to electronic cigarettes"; coordinating with localities in administrative inspections...

According to Ms. Dao Thi Cuc, it is necessary to communicate vividly, speaking in the language of "teenagers" so that students can easily receive and actively spread it. At the same time, multi-dimensional coordination between school-family-society is of decisive significance. Maintaining creative activities such as: Propaganda via the internal network, drawing pictures, making clips has helped the school maintain the title of "Smoke-free school" for many years. "Everyone should join hands to build a safe, civilized, smoke-free community," Ms. Cuc emphasized.

Sharing her experience in communicating about tobacco prevention and control at school, teacher Phung Thi Thu Trang, Vice Principal of Nguyen Du Secondary School (Thai Nguyen) said: Using channels such as fanpage, zalo, and facebook of the school helps to expand the scope of propaganda; at the same time, attracting the active participation of students and parents. In particular, storytelling activities based on books using AI technology to post "made by teens" products such as propaganda videos about the harmful effects of tobacco, traffic safety, etc. have contributed to raising awareness and fostering digital capacity for teachers and students.

Officers of the People's Police Academy discussed and shared with teachers and students of Duong Lieu B Primary School, Duong Hoa Commune (Hanoi) about ways to prevent drugs and electronic cigarettes. (Photo: PHUONG NGUYEN)

Suggesting effective educational methods, teacher Cao Le Quang, art teacher at Dang Van Ngu Secondary School (Hue city) said that it is necessary to focus on educating life values and life skills so that students can proactively say no to cigarettes and become active propagandists.

According to teacher Cao Le Quang, there are 3 effective educational methods in schools: First, integrating educational content about health, ethics and social responsibility in subjects such as Civic Education, Biology, Literature, Fine Arts, etc. In particular, Fine Arts and Multimedia Arts help students create their own propaganda posters, propaganda videos, and turn awareness into creative action.

Second, through experiential activities to organize forums, dramatizations, slogan writing competitions, and establish the "Students Say No to Tobacco" Club so that students can both study and positively inspire their friends.

Third, coordination between school-family-society; in which parents need to set an example, not smoking indoors; schools cooperate with health care, unions, and local police to propagate and support students at risk. When understanding correctly and living correctly, students not only stay away from cigarettes but also contribute to spreading positive messages to friends and relatives through social networks, media campaigns, or small actions in daily life.

Master, Doctor Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) said: In recent times, the fund has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Training and other ministries, branches, provinces and cities across the country to implement many practical activities to prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco among students. Thousands of direct communication sessions at schools have been organized; hundreds of documents, videos, lectures, and communication products have been compiled and widely disseminated; many competitions, extracurricular programs, and "Smoke-free School" models have been maintained regularly.

The Ministry of Education and Training has also organized training courses on the use of educational guidance documents integrating tobacco harm prevention content into subject lectures and high school education activities for teachers in localities. These activities have contributed to innovation in educational content and methods, helping teachers have more tools and skills to convey knowledge about tobacco harm prevention in a more vivid, closer and effective way to students.

However, Ms. Hai also expressed concern that among adolescents aged 13-17, the rate of e-cigarette use increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023; among the 13-15 age group, this rate has more than doubled, from 3.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2023. Notably, among females aged 11-18, according to preliminary survey results in 11 provinces, the rate of e-cigarette use was at 4.3% in 2023.

QUYNH NGUYEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/canh-bao-nguy-co-thuoc-la-dang-am-tham-len-loi-vao-moi-truong-hoc-duong-post921222.html