What does the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training say about the insufficient amount of food provided to students in school lunch programs?

(NLĐO) - The education sector needs coordination from schools, families, and society as a whole to provide feedback to schools in organizing school lunch programs.

Recently, on student and parent forums in Ho Chi Minh City, many students have posted photos of school lunch meals, stating that the meals are not filling enough, do not meet food safety standards, and are not worth the price.

In response to the above feedback, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training stated that regarding the organization of school lunch programs in schools throughout the city, the department has issued a directive to the District and County Departments of Education and Training and school principals to properly manage collective kitchens, canteens, and food services in schools; and to strictly ensure food safety conditions as stipulated in Joint Circular No. 13/2016 and Joint Circular No. 08/2008 of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training.

Educational institutions are required to seriously implement the following: Strengthen inspection, management, and supervision of school meals, food safety, proper nutrition, and environmental hygiene in educational institutions; allocate reasonable meal times for students; ensure that dining areas are well-ventilated and clean; monitor the processing, supply, and cost of each student meal daily; regularly monitor industrial meal providers; and strictly conduct self-inspections of food safety in school kitchens and canteens.

Students complain about the school lunch program at a high school in District 4.

Specifically for educational institutions with on-site kitchens: The leadership team, health staff, and those directly managing and supervising meals, the quality of school kitchens, canteens, and food services must understand and be familiar with current regulations on food business investment conditions, administrative penalties for food safety violations, measures to prevent and handle food poisoning incidents; guidance on implementing the 3-step food inspection and food sample retention system for food service businesses; and guidance on operating the self-inspection system at educational institutions.

Regular and unscheduled inspections and monitoring of school kitchens, canteens, and food services are required. The head of the school is responsible for signing contracts with food suppliers and food companies in accordance with food safety standards, legal documentation, and ensuring the source of clean, traceable, and hygienically safe food, as well as the legal documentation of those directly involved in cooking and business operations. Coordination with the Parent-Teacher Association is essential to supervise the food preparation, procurement, and nutritionally balanced menus.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, the department issued a directive instructing the District Departments of Education and Training to assign personnel to participate in all food safety inspection teams in schools during the 2024-2025 school year, in conjunction with the Department of Food Safety; to develop a plan for inspecting school meals, food safety, clean water, and environmental hygiene across all educational institutions; and to encourage Parent-Teacher Associations to jointly supervise school meals.

The education sector requires coordination from schools, families, and society as a whole. Parent-teacher associations at the class and school levels should play their role in coordinating with the school to care for students' health; providing advice and suggestions to the school on organizing school lunch programs; and jointly monitoring the organization and quality of school lunch programs throughout the school year.

"The Department of Education and Training is always ready to receive feedback from parents and students regarding the quality of school lunch programs in schools throughout the city. We consider this a useful channel for the education sector to further improve inspection and supervision, enhance the quality of school lunch programs, and improve students' health care," a representative from the department affirmed.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/so-gd-dt-tp-hcm-noi-gi-ve-bua-an-ban-tru-cua-hoc-sinh-khong-du-no-196241108095819591.htm