What are the regulations on semi-boarding meals for primary school students? What are the food safety requirements for food processing areas?

Is providing essential nutrients one of the principles for providing semi-boarding meals for primary school students in Vietnam?

Under Section 1, Part 2 of the Guidelines issued with Decision 2195/QD-BGDDT, there are five general principles for providing semi-boarding meals for primary school students in Vietnam, which include:

[1] Ensuring the provision of sufficient energy and essential nutrients;

[2] Ensuring the allocation ratio of energy for meals at school;

[3] Ensuring the development of a scientific, balanced, reasonable meal menu;

[4] Ensuring conditions of physical facilities;

[5] Ensuring personnel conditions.

Is providing essential nutrients one of the principles for providing semi-boarding meals for primary school students in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the food safety requirements for food processing areas in Vietnam?

Under Section 2, Part 2 of the Guidelines issued with Decision 2195/QD-BGDDT, the food processing areas for primary school students must meet the following  food safety requirements:

- Kitchens must be designed according to the one-way principle;

- There should be sufficient water meeting technical standards for drinking, processing, and living purposes (household water must come from certified clean water providers, in cases of self-extracted water, the quality must meet the standards as per the National Technical Regulation (QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT) issued with Circular No. 41/2018/TT-BYT);

- There must be separate utensils for processing, storing, and using fresh food and processed food;

- There must be sufficient utensils for dividing, handling, storing food, and drinking utensils that ensure cleanliness, non-contamination with toxic substances, and do not pollute food, maintaining daily sanitation policies;

- There must be clean disposable gloves for direct contact with food; there must be boots or shoes solely for use within the food processing area;

- There must be measures to prevent flies, cockroaches, insects, and harmful animals;

- There must be handwashing stations, toilets; waste containers with lids for waste collection and ensure daily cleanliness of waste.

Additionally, the dining areas for primary school students must:

- Access to water that meets hygiene standards for drinking and sanitation;

- Have eating utensils made from safe materials, washed, and kept dry;

- Be well-ventilated, with sufficient tables and chairs, and always kept clean;

- Be equipped with sufficient facilities to prevent flies, cockroaches, insects, and disease-carrying animals;

- Have handwashing stations, and toilets; waste containers must be secured with lids, and waste must be systematically cleaned up daily.

What is the role of the family in the development of primary school students in Vietnam?

According to the regulation in Section 3, Part 4 of the Guidelines issued with Decision 2195/QD-BGDDT, the family's role specifically includes:

- Collaborate with the school in caring for and nurturing children. Parents need to understand the meal policies for students at school to coordinate and adjust the meal policies at home to ensure sufficient energy for students throughout the day, while also facilitating and encouraging them to study and increase physical activities.

- Change meals to differ from those at school to engage students' interest in eating at home according to the principle of food diversity; cooperate with the school in providing nutrition education at home and create healthy eating habits for children.

- Avoid feeding students late after 8 p.m., and limit the use of sweet and salty foods and drinks.

- Set a good example in increasing physical activity.

Provide opportunities for students to participate in active games, dynamic entertainment forms, and sports activities.

- Encourage students to walk or cycle safely to school.

- Always have ready: ball, badminton... for students' active games

Prepare alternative sports for when students get bored with the current sport.

- Encourage students to engage in dynamic games instead of watching the internet, or TV, and playing games or computers.

- Collaborate with the school to increase opportunities for students to participate in physical activities.

- Mobilize local authorities to facilitate students walking, cycling to school, and engaging in physical activities close by, and within the community.

- Work with schools and society to enhance facilities, and equipment for organizing school meals combined with boosting physical activities at school.