Creating a foundation for the holistic development of children.

Children are the future of the country and are always a subject of special concern for the Party, the State, and the entire society. Following President Ho Chi Minh's teachings on caring for and educating the younger generation, Quang Ninh province has implemented many practical solutions over the years to protect, care for, and educate children, build a safe and friendly living environment, and create conditions for their comprehensive development.

Comrade Quan Minh Cuong, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies, visited children at the Provincial Social Assistance Center, Branch 2 (Ha Long Ward).

By the end of 2025, the province will have 364,893 children under 16 years old, including 112,526 children under 6 years old; 4,226 children in special circumstances and 4,577 children at risk of falling into special circumstances. Over the years, Quang Ninh has consistently identified the protection, care, and education of children as one of its key tasks, with strategic significance for the province's sustainable development. Therefore, along with the effective implementation of central government policies, the province has proactively issued many specific mechanisms and policies to better care for children, especially those in disadvantaged areas and vulnerable children.

In the field of education, the province has implemented many specific and practical policies. Typical examples include the policy of providing lunch support for 18,400 preschool and primary school students in ethnic minority areas, mountainous regions, island communes, and priority and disadvantaged groups, with a budget of 130 billion VND per year; and the policy of supporting meals and accommodation in centralized facilities, or providing transportation to and from school daily for students and trainees in ethnic minority areas, mountainous regions, and island communes who face difficulties in commuting to and from school, averaging 600,000 VND per student per month, approximately 85 billion VND per year…

From 2026, the province will implement a school milk program to support over 200,000 preschool and primary school children, contributing to improving their physical health and enhancing their stature for the future generation. In the 2026-2027 school year, the province will begin providing free textbooks to 290,000 students and trainees in general education, with an annual budget of nearly 100 billion VND. This will reduce the financial burden on families and create conditions for all children to have convenient access to education.

Alongside education, the province has also focused on improving its social assistance policy system for children. Quang Ninh is one of the leading localities in raising the standard of social assistance higher than the central government's regulations, while expanding the number of children eligible for support policies. Children without a source of support, children with serious illnesses, those requiring long-term treatment, or those who suffer from accidents, injuries, violence, or abuse all receive timely support. Currently, the province has over 31,000 people receiving monthly social assistance, including over 1,000 children, with a total expenditure of over 400 billion VND per year. In addition, policies supporting health insurance for children from near-poor households, middle-income households, and ethnic minority communities continue to be maintained, contributing to ensuring the right to healthcare for all children.

Dam Ha Primary School (Dam Ha commune) is implementing a school milk program for all students in the school.

A highlight in Quang Ninh's efforts to care for children is the collective contribution of the community. In 2024, the province launched the "Sponsorship Campaign for Children in Difficult Circumstances and Without Support" using socialized resources. Through this campaign, hundreds of children have received support from agencies, organizations, businesses, and philanthropists. To date, 453 children in difficult circumstances have received sponsorship with a total committed support of tens of billions of VND until they complete their high school education. These humane acts not only provide material support but also instill confidence and strength in these children to confidently move forward in life.

Thanks to coordinated efforts and practical solutions, the goals for children in the province have all met and exceeded the targets set by the central government. 100% of children with special circumstances have received care and attention; the target of reducing the rate of underweight malnutrition among children under 5 years old has been reached at 5.8%; the rate of stunting malnutrition among children under 5 years old has been reduced to 11%; and the rate of obesity malnutrition among children under 5 years old has been reduced to 4.8%. The preschool enrollment rate reached 96.6%, the primary school enrollment rate reached 99.99%, the rate of students completing the lower secondary education program reached 99.99%, and 92% of schools met national standards.

The positive figures not only reflect the effectiveness of social welfare, education, and childcare policies, but also demonstrate Quang Ninh's sustained investment in the future. However, alongside these achievements, numerous challenges remain in protecting children from risks such as injuries, drowning, abuse, and the increasingly complex impacts of the digital environment, requiring the joint efforts of families, schools, and society as a whole.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the 2026 Action Month for Children, jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and the Provincial People's Committee, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Provincial Committee for the Advancement of Women and the Protection and Care of Children, emphasized: Children are the future of the country and a vital resource for national development. Therefore, protecting, caring for, and educating children is not only the responsibility of all levels and sectors, but also requires the joint efforts of every family and the entire society.

With the theme "Happy, Safe, and Steadfast Children in the Digital Age," the 2026 Action Month for Children continues to spread the message of building a safe, healthy, and friendly living environment for all children. In the coming period, Quang Ninh province will focus on implementing comprehensive solutions to protect, care for, and educate children; promote the dissemination of the Law on Children and related policies; enhance digital knowledge and skills for children and parents; build a truly safe and healthy family environment; and proactively prevent accidents, injuries, drowning, and other risks of child abuse. In particular, the province will continue to pay attention to children in difficult circumstances, children in remote areas, border regions, and islands; and mobilize maximum resources to ensure that all children receive comprehensive care, education, and development.

Thu Chung

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tao-nen-tang-phat-trien-toan-dien-cho-tre-em-3409573.html