Prevent tobacco from entering schools.

The College of Tourism and Industry incorporates awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of tobacco into its career counseling sessions.

Focus on public awareness campaigns.

The College of Tourism and Industry (Cam Giang) is a prime example of building a "smoke-free school" model in the province. Regularly, every month, students learn about the dangers of tobacco through extracurricular activities. Furthermore, the school actively promotes awareness about tobacco control through its fan page and Zalo group. Within the school grounds, posters and slogans about the harmful effects of tobacco are placed in easily visible locations. Strict enforcement of the smoking ban is also included as a criterion for evaluating student performance.

According to Mr. Vu Xuan Kien, Vice Principal of the College of Tourism and Industry and Trade, the school currently has nearly 2,000 students studying in 20 majors and fields of study. Due to the specific nature of vocational training related to tourism and services, in addition to imparting knowledge, the school places great emphasis on educating and training students in skills and physical fitness.

Smoking not only directly affects the health of the user but also harms those around them, making it inappropriate for people working in service industries. Therefore, the school is determined to combat smoking, as well as the buying, selling, and trading of conventional cigarettes and new generation tobacco products within the school.

Nguyen Xuan Tung, a student at the College of Tourism and Trade, said: “Studying far from home, I sometimes feel lonely. Seeing this, my friends offer me cigarettes to ease my sadness. However, I resolutely refuse and strictly adhere to the school's no-smoking policy. Participating in extracurricular classes has helped me understand the harmful effects of cigarettes even better. Besides proactively resisting the temptation of cigarettes, I am also an active advocate, encouraging my relatives and friends to stay away from this ever-present danger.”

Many schools in the province are focusing on raising awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco during extracurricular activities (photo provided by the school).

Extracurricular activities promoting the harmful effects of tobacco at Toan Thang Secondary School (Gia Loc District) always generate enthusiasm among students. The awareness campaigns are diverse, ranging from quizzes to short plays about tobacco, attracting many students to participate and respond. Furthermore, all students, parents, and school leaders, teachers, and staff have signed a commitment to say no to tobacco. As a result, for many years, there have been no instances of students smoking at the school. Male teachers also set a good example by adhering to the no-smoking policy on school grounds.

According to school representatives, junior high school students are teenagers who are curious and eager to explore , making them easily susceptible to being lured and tempted into vices, especially smoking. Therefore, the school is very concerned about educating and raising awareness among students about the harmful effects of tobacco.

Create a durable shield .

Tobacco, especially e-cigarettes, continues to subtly infiltrate and attack students. The main reason is that this age group does not fully understand the dangers and lacks the self-control to overcome the temptation of tobacco. Therefore, schools must protect students from the threat of tobacco.

Saying no to tobacco is one of the important topics that Dinh Van Ta Primary School (Hai Duong City) incorporates into its talks, thematic activities, and life skills training sessions. Recognizing that prevention is more effective than cure, the school wants students to become aware early on of the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes so they can proactively develop immunity against this danger.

Nguyen Tien Anh Duc, a 4th-grade student from Dinh Van Ta Primary School, excitedly shared: “Thanks to the teachers' awareness campaigns, I quickly realized the harmful effects of cigarettes on human health. My grandfather smokes a lot, and I've advised him to quit. I even asked my parents to hang the picture I drew with the message to stay away from cigarette smoke in the living room so everyone can remember it.”

There are approximately 850 schools at all levels in the province. Through a review, the Department of Health assessed that over 60% of schools strictly adhere to regulations prohibiting smoking within school grounds. Building smoke-free schools has become a standard practice in many schools throughout the province. A sociological survey on the percentage of students using tobacco in the province has not yet been conducted. However, the reality of some students smoking has been noted.

According to Dr. Vu Thi Phuong, Deputy Head of the Outpatient Department (Hai Duong Lung Hospital), "Students and young people still don't fully understand the dangers of tobacco. Most smoke out of curiosity, a desire to show off, or to impress others. Therefore, families and schools need to work together to help young people say no to tobacco and avoid future negative consequences."

HOANG LINH - DUC THANH

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ngan-thuoc-la-xam-nhap-vao-truong-hoc-412699.html