Guidelines for school health services in the 2024-2025 academic year

On August 27, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) issued Official Letter No. 4719/BGDĐT-GDTC providing guidance on physical education, sports activities, and school health services in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The letter specifies the following tasks and provides guidance on specific measures for school health services:

(1) Implement directives and guidance from the Ministry of Health and MOET on disease prevention and control. Coordinate closely with the grassroots healthcare system to organize communication and educational activities to raise awareness, improve knowledge and skills in disease prevention and control, and protect the health of school and university students.

(2) Direct the continued implementation of, and organize final reviews of, the Prime Minister’s programs and projects on school health services:

– The School Health Program for 2021-2025;

– The program linking school health services in preschool and general education institutions with grassroots healthcare for 2021-2025;

– The project to ensure appropriate nutrition and increase physical activity for children and school and university students to improve health and prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchial asthma for 2018-2025.

Provide school health services in accordance with Joint Circular No. 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT dated May 12, 2016, on school health services in educational institutions, and the Education Sector’s Action Plan on clean water and environmental sanitation in schools for 2023-2026.

Strengthen facilities and staffing to ensure full implementation of the provisions and tasks set out in the Ministry of Health’s Circular No. 33/2021/TT-BYT dated December 31, 2021, on school health services in higher education and vocational education institutions.

(3) Strengthen health communication and education, population-related work in the new context, sex education, and reproductive health education; prevent and combat the harmful effects of tobacco (particularly electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, etc.), liquor, and beer on school and university students.

Coordinate closely with social insurance agencies at all levels to promote, provide guidance on, and encourage participation in compulsory health insurance for school and university students; focus on ensuring students’ entitlement to primary healthcare at school and supporting disadvantaged students in enrolling in health insurance.

– Promote the implementation and expansion of school meal models that ensure appropriate nutrition combined with increased physical activity for children and school students; raise awareness and provide university students with training and updated knowledge on caring for their own health; and provide education on healthy, science-based lifestyles.

(4) Organize training to improve the professional competence and skills of dedicated school health personnel and those serving concurrently in other roles, as required by regulations;

Organize communication activities to raise awareness among faculty and staff and school and university students about school health services, disease prevention and control, and noncommunicable diseases.

For further details, see Official Letter No. 4719/BGDĐT-GDTC dated August 27, 2024.

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.