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| Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, director of the Department of Student Affairs (Ministry of Education and Training), responded to questions from the press regarding the 300 tons of spoiled pork introduced into school canteens. (Source: VGP) |
The recent incident involving 300 tonnes of spoiled pork in school canteens has been revealed. This event raises the alarm about food safety in schools and highlights management and inspection problems. Could the Ministry of Education and Training explain the solutions implemented to prevent the introduction of spoiled food into schools?
At the regular government press conference in March 2026 (afternoon of April 4), Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, Director of the Department of Student Affairs (Ministry of Education and Training), said: Safety and Food hygiene as well as student health are among the issues of particular concern to the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as the entire education sector, because they directly affect teaching and learning, maintaining the learning environment and achieving student learning tasks.
“Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training has focused on fulfilling its functions and duties, which include disseminating information and educating the public on food safety, as well as coordinating efforts to ensure the safety and food hygiene in all educational establishments,” underlined Mr. Hoang Duc Minh.
The Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, issued Circular No. 08 of 2008 providing guidelines on food safety and hygiene in all educational institutions.
Furthermore, in 2016, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Joint Circular No. 13 was issued on school health work, directly related to the health and protection of the health of students in institutions teaching, including meals, nutrition and food safety.
Each year, the Ministry includes these contents in its guidance documents which define the tasks for all educational levels and for students, and it has strictly implemented these guidelines.
Recently, following the issue of food contamination in schools, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Document No. 1602 on April 3, ordering provincial education directorates, member educational institutions and all institutions in the sector to continue to strictly implement the regulations of the Food Safety Law, as well as the directives of the Party, the State, the Ministry and other relevant ministries on food safety.
Secondly, it is urgent to review and control all contracts relating to the organizations responsible for the organization and distribution of meals in schools and education services. It is imperative that all commitments and clauses stipulated in these contracts are strictly and correctly applied. Any infraction must be immediately punished. At the same time, it is necessary to consult with the competent authorities in order to propose solutions providing for severe sanctions in the event of a violation.
Next, all school catering suppliers should be publicly listed on websites and in the media so that parents, competent authorities and society at large can monitor them. At the same time, coordination is necessary to quickly detect any regulatory violations.
Encourage and promote the dissemination of knowledge on food safety and hygiene among all teaching, administrative and school staff, in order to ensure their implementation and coordination. At the same time, guarantee impeccable hygiene in school kitchens and canteens, where appropriate where applicable. Implement measures to prevent food contamination and control the transmission of diseases through food in school kitchens and canteens.
The next step is to strengthen coordination between the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health and the health services of other competent bodies in matters of inspection and implementation, and to intensify monitoring through coordination with families, educational establishments and civil society, in particular parents’ associations, school youth movements and other competent bodies, in order to ensure regular monitoring and to quickly detect problems and propose appropriate measures. The role and responsibility of heads of establishments of all institutions. educational establishments must be strengthened.
The Ministry of Education and Training will continue to play a leading role, in collaboration with other ministries and organizations, in order to effectively implement solutions in the coming months. Its objective is to guarantee the proper execution of the sector’s missions, thus allowing students to be in good health, succeed in their studies and for teachers to teach effectively “If all stakeholders strengthen their sense of responsibility, we hope that the problem of introducing unsanitary food into schools will be effectively prevented,” said Mr. Hoang Duc Minh.
Source : https://baoquocte.vn/bo-giao-duc-va-dao-tao-chi-dao-bao-dam-thuc-hien-an-toan-ve-sinh-thuc-pham-trong-truong-hoc-377585.html
