Principles of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in Vietnam

Principles of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in Vietnam (Internet image)

On October 26, 2023, the Minister of Education and Training issued Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDDT on guidance on construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in general education institutions or continuing education institutions.

1. Principles of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in Vietnam

Specifically, Article 3 of Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDDT stipulates the principles of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in Vietnam as follows:

- It is considered as an important and regular task of each school. The school shall give priority to performance of this task in conformity with the demand for education development, its actual conditions and those of each area.

- Local authorities and the community shall participate in construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries. Students, managers, teachers, staff and students' parents shall actively and effectively participate in the construction.

- The inspection and assessment shall be regular, objective, truthful, prompt, public and transparent.

2. Contents of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in Vietnam

Pursuant to Article 4 of Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDDT, contents of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries are as follows:

- Satisfaction of safety requirements for facilities, equipment, means, documents, teaching resources that serve education.

- Assurance about school safety and security; prevention and control of school violence, crimes and social evils; provision of guidance for students on participation in safe and healthy cyberspace in accordance with law regulations.

- Education about knowledge and skills in prevention of drowning; traffic safety; fire safety; response to natural disasters; prevention of fall, collision, electrical injury and other accidents and injuries that regularly occur.

- Protection and care of students’ health; assurance about food safety; prevention and control of school epidemics, harm caused by tobacco and its products, alcohol, beer and other addictive substances.

- Implementation of the code of conduct and compliance with regulation on school democracy; mental education; performance of social work and psychological counseling for students in schools.

3. Regulations on management of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries in Vietnam

According to Article 5 of Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDDT, management of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries is as follows:

- Issue and organize implementation of operation plans by each year and period in association with education and development plans of schools; determine specific resources and roadmap for fulfillment of criteria applicable to safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries specified in the Appendix issued with Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDDT.

- Make and organize compliance with regulations on cooperation in construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries among organizations under such schools; between these schools and parents, in which the responsibility of each relevant individual and organization shall be clearly specified.

- Develop prevention and settlement plans before, during and after accidents and injuries occur in schools and cooperate in settlement outside schools; make plans to meet requirements for safety, prevention and control of accidents and injuries for students when schools organize or cooperate to organize educational activities outside schools.

- Set up a channel intended for receipt of information and a system used to record, monitor and supervise developments in construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries.

- Organize regular/periodic inspection of construction of safe schools for prevention and control of accidents and injuries and compliance with regulations applicable to students, managers, teachers, and staff.

More details can be found in Circular 18/2023/TT-BGDDT taking effect on December 12, 2023.

Ho Quoc Tuan

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE