Towards a smoke-free school environment

Medical staff of Banh Trach Secondary School, Ba Be communicate about PCTHCTL to students

In Bac Kan city, the work of preventing the harmful effects of tobacco is being promoted by schools. Through this activity, students and teenagers are equipped with knowledge, raising awareness and understanding of the harmful effects of tobacco and electronic cigarettes. The propaganda sessions not only help students grasp basic knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco and how to prevent them, but also encourage them to become active propagandists in their families and communities. Nguyen Ngoc Lan, a student of class 8A1, Huyen Tung Secondary School, Bac Kan city, shared: “I find the propaganda activities very useful. After listening to the media at school, I have propagated to my family members and people around me about the harmful effects of tobacco so that everyone can stay away from it.”

Teacher Luu Thi Khuyen, Head of the Youth Union of Huyen Tung Secondary School, said: "From the beginning of the school year, the school has integrated the content of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco into subjects, flag-salute ceremonies and extracurricular activities."

In order to improve the effectiveness of propaganda work, schools in the province have participated in training courses organized by the Department of Education and Training in collaboration with the Department of Health. Here, teachers, especially teachers in charge of the Youth Union and the School Youth Union Secretary, are fully equipped with knowledge of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms as well as skills to organize communication activities suitable for each age group of students.

Schools have also taken many practical measures to create a smoke-free school environment. At the school gate, hallways, classrooms, cafeterias, etc., clear and easy-to-see “No Smoking” signs are posted, as a form of regular and visual reminder.

According to Director of the Provincial Continuing Education Center Ly Thi Hong Hiep: "The propaganda work at the unit has the active coordination of the Youth Union organization, thereby contributing to raising awareness and responsibility for law compliance for students."

Not stopping at one-way propaganda, many schools have innovated their approach through dramatization, seminars, competitions, thematic activities... creating a lively and attractive atmosphere for students. Teacher Vu Viet Ha, Head of the Youth Union of Duc Xuan Secondary School, Bac Kan City shared: "We regularly organize flag-raising activities and classroom activities of teachers as well as integrate them into subjects, helping students understand and remember better the harmful effects of tobacco, especially electronic cigarettes".

An important factor in the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco is the role of teachers as role models and the support of parents. Teachers are the ones who inspire healthy living for students, parents need to pay more attention to their children, regularly talk, guide and monitor the use of social networks, where images and electronic cigarette products are easily accessible to young people.

Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, at least 69 of which are carcinogenic. Smoking not only affects the person directly using it, but also harms those around them, especially children. For students, smoking reduces concentration, reduces academic performance, and negatively affects both physical and mental development.

Traditional cigarette smoke has long been warned by medical experts about its dangers to health, but now, with cigarettes, a new concern has appeared: electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Worryingly, the rate of use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products among young people in our country has been on the rise recently.

Strengthening education on tobacco harm prevention in schools is not the sole responsibility of the education sector but requires coordinated efforts between departments, sectors, organizations and the whole society. This coordination not only aims to protect students’ health but also aims to form a healthy, active and responsible young generation towards the community.

It can be affirmed that building smoke-free schools is a necessary and urgent requirement to ensure a safe and clean school environment, which is the foundation for the comprehensive development of students. With synchronous, persistent and creative measures, the Education and Training sector is gradually creating a smoke-free educational environment./.

Source: https://backan.gov.vn/Pages/truyen-thong-giao-duc-phong-chong-tac-hai-cua-thuo-a9d2.aspx