Commendation for principal who asked to exchange flowers on November 20 for health insurance card

Ho Chi Minh City With the initiative to exchange flowers and gifts on November 20 for insurance cards for poor students, teacher Dinh Phu Cuong was unexpectedly rewarded by Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance.

During the flag salute ceremony on the morning of November 20 at Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School, District 6, Mr. Tran Dung Ha, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance, representing this unit, presented a certificate of merit to Principal Dinh Phu Cuong and the school staff.

Mr. Ha said that according to regulations, students are supported by the state with 30% of the premium when participating in health insurance. Last school year, nearly two million students in the city had health insurance, reaching a rate of 96.55%. The rest could not participate, according to Mr. Ha, due to many reasons, but mainly because their families were facing economic difficulties.

Therefore, Mr. Ha was very touched by the kindness of the teachers of Nguyen Van Luong School through calling on parents to exchange gifts and cakes on November 20 to help 89 students in the school. Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance decided to give 89 gifts to the children, each worth 500,000 VND.

Mr. Tran Dung Ha (left) awarded a certificate of merit to teacher Dinh Phu Cuong (middle) and the school's representative. Photo: HCM City Social Insurance — Mr. Tran Dung Ha (left) presented a certificate of merit to teacher Dinh Phu Cuong (middle) and the school's representative. Photo: *HCM City Social Insurance*

"My teachers and I were very surprised. This activity was initially only internal, but we did not expect it to be strongly supported and spread to many places. This is our happiness to be able to help our students," said Mr. Cuong.

A week ago, teacher Dinh Phu Cuong sent a letter asking parents to donate flowers and cakes instead of giving them flowers and cakes on November 20th so that 89 disadvantaged students could buy health insurance cards. According to him, the flowers and cakes can only be used for the day, and it would be a waste if teachers could not use them all.

The value of each student health insurance card is more than 680,000 VND for the whole year of 2024, the total amount needed is about 60 million VND. However, the school has received nearly 200 million VND, equivalent to 300 cards. Mr. Cuong said the remaining money will be used to take care of the Lunar New Year 2024 for poor students.

This action was later responded by Hai Ba Trung Primary School ( Da Nang City) and To Hieu Primary School (Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province). Both schools called on parents and benefactors to contribute to buying health insurance cards for disadvantaged students instead of giving flowers and gifts. Many teachers and parents consider this a practical way of doing things that needs to be spread.

Previously, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh announced that they would not receive guests, gifts or flower baskets to celebrate November 20 in order to implement the policy of saving and fighting waste.