Diem Thuy High School actively implements work to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco in schools.

In recent years, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products have been creeping into schools, causing many worrying consequences for the health and psychology of students. As one of the pioneering educational units in Thai Nguyen province to strongly implement the work of preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco, Diem Thuy High School has had many creative and highly effective activities.

Reporter of Vietnam Women Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Luong Van Huy - Principal of Diem Thuy High School about this issue.

Reporter: Sir, e-cigarettes are becoming a trend among young people. How do you perceive this risk to the school environment?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: In reality, e-cigarettes are becoming a concern for the education sector. Many students are drawn in by curiosity and a desire to show off, thinking that e-cigarettes are “light” and “not as toxic as traditional cigarettes”. However, through research documents and from the health sector, e-cigarettes contain nicotine and many chemicals that seriously affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and especially the brain development of adolescents.

When students use e-cigarettes, it is often accompanied by curiosity and a desire to show off to their friends. It is more dangerous when students bring e-cigarettes to school and invite their friends to try them, creating a contagious and difficult-to-control effect in the classroom and school.

At Diem Thuy High School, although we have not recorded any cases of students using e-cigarettes in school, we have determined that this is an issue that requires early and strong action, prevention is better than cure, and students are not exposed to negative risks from e-cigarettes.

PV: It is known that the school has implemented many propaganda activities in the 2025-2026 school year. Can you share more details?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: Right from the beginning of the school year, the school has implemented plans according to the directives from the Ministry of Education and Training; Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee; Department of Education and Training on preventing the harmful effects of tobacco in the education sector for the 2025-2026 school year. We have directed the School Youth Union to deploy 35/35 Youth Union branches to organize the activity "Propaganda on preventing and combating the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products in schools for the 2025-2026 school year".

Diem Thuy High School regularly organizes propaganda to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco for students.

The propaganda session was carried out in a lively format, combining presentations, watching illustrative videos , and exchanging questions and answers. We did not want students to just listen passively, but to participate, discuss, and ask questions. The content of the propaganda session focused on three goals: Raising students' awareness of the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products; Helping students identify risk factors, thereby forming a resolute attitude of saying "no"; Building a healthy, smoke-free school environment.

After the program, 100% of students signed a commitment to “Not storing, transporting, trading, or using tobacco, e-cigarettes, or heated tobacco products in school.” This is a clear change in students’ awareness and responsibility.

PV: Besides propaganda, what solutions has the school applied for effective prevention and monitoring?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: Propaganda work is the focus, but supervision and coordination are the conditions to ensure. The school closely coordinates with the Commune Police and the health station to organize thematic talks on the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. These contents not only appear during flag-salute activities, but are also presented in many forms such as videos, skits, real stories, etc. to make it easier for students to absorb.

At the same time, we implement monitoring measures: Homeroom teachers closely monitor the classroom situation, promptly detect unusual signs; When detecting students showing signs of using electronic cigarettes, teachers immediately remind and notify parents, requesting cooperation; The school has a suggestion box "What I want to say" which is also a place to receive information provided by students to promptly grasp and prevent students from violating. Along with that, we deploy the "Smoke-free school" model synchronously and consistently: from the school gate, hallway, restroom to library, parking lot, there are billboards and slogans "No smoking".

Students of Diem Thuy High School confidently know how to prevent the harmful effects of tobacco.

Our point of view is: if you make a commitment, you must do it, avoid the situation of widespread propaganda but lax supervision. In the coming time, the school will increase propaganda, education on cognitive skills and self-protection for students.

Work with parents and local authorities to monitor and detect violations early. More importantly, it is necessary to build a positive school culture where students feel respected, loved and have a healthy environment to develop.

PV: Many people think that the propaganda method on preventing and combating the harmful effects of tobacco is not very innovative and easily causes boredom. Has Diem Thuy High School innovated and attracted students?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: We clearly determined that if the propaganda is carried out while students sit and listen and… count the minutes, the effectiveness is almost zero. Therefore, the school brings activities in a more creative and interactive way.

One of the highlights is that the school organizes extracurricular activities such as: "Prevention of the harmful effects of tobacco"; "Learning about the Law on Prevention of the harmful effects of tobacco"... Through extracurricular activities, students learn and demonstrate their understanding in many forms: acting out skits; speaking; presenting with slides or infographics.

Many skits were created by the students themselves based on real-life situations: being invited to try e-cigarettes, how to refuse when friends entice them... The students learned behavioral skills and conveyed the message "Cigarettes are harmful to your health, stay away from them while still in school."

In addition, the school also launched a writing and painting contest on the theme “No Smoking”. Outstanding products were displayed on stage, in the school grounds; posted on bulletin boards, and broadcast on internal loudspeakers. When students do it themselves, speak it themselves, and spread it themselves, the effect will be stronger than any theoretical lecture.

PV: The commitment is not only applied to students, but also to staff and teachers?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: We believe that education through actions is more important than education through words. Therefore, not only students, but 100% of the school's staff, teachers and employees also signed a commitment not to smoke on campus.

Teachers must be role models. Students are very sensitive, if teachers smoke, all propaganda is just a formality. Thanks to this consensus, the school environment becomes more civilized and clean.

PV: What are the initial results of the school after implementing the model?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: The initial results are very positive: More than 90% of students have basic knowledge about the harmful effects of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes; 100% of students signed a commitment not to use cigarettes in school; Last school year, there were no cases of student violations.

More importantly, we see students proactively reminding each other and creating a smoke-free environment in the classroom and on the school grounds. When students are proactive, the rules will be sustainable.

PV: Besides the achieved results, what difficulties does the school encounter during the implementation process?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: The biggest difficulty is the impact from the outside environment. Some children have relatives who smoke at home, or are enticed by friends. E-cigarettes are disguised as pens and USBs, making detection more difficult.

In addition, the budget for organizing media playgrounds, forums, and extracurricular activities is limited, sometimes making the scale of the program not as expected. However, we identify this as a long-term and persistent process.

PV: In your opinion, what role do parents play in preventing the harmful effects of tobacco in schools?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: In my opinion, parents play an extremely important role in preventing and limiting the use of electronic cigarettes by students. Because the family is the first educational environment and has the most profound influence on the perception and behavior of each student. If parents care, are close, and talk regularly, they can recognize early signs of abnormalities and intervene promptly.

We expect parents to: Set an example with a healthy lifestyle; Care and talk to their children about the harmful effects of tobacco; Coordinate closely with homeroom teachers and the school when there are signs of suspicion.

The coordination between family and school helps to form a comprehensive network of supervision and support for students. When parents clearly understand school regulations, participate in propaganda and management of their children at home, the educational effectiveness will be much higher. We believe that if family, school and society join hands, the message "Say no to tobacco" will spread more strongly.

PV: Can you send a message to students and parents?

Mr. Luong Van Huy: Choose a healthy lifestyle and confidently say “no” to electronic cigarettes. Because every right choice today will open up a bright future tomorrow. The school always trusts, loves and accompanies you on the path to adulthood.

Schools should be the cleanest, safest places for students. We will continue to strive to maintain a “Smoke-Free – Risk-Free – No Compromise with E-Cigarettes” environment.

PV: Thank you very much!

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/truong-thpt-diem-thuy-tich-cuc-trien-khai-cong-tac-phong-chong-tac-hai-thuoc-la-hoc-duong-20251110143143519.htm