Encourage 100% of preschool and primary school students to drink school milk.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of September 16th, under the chairmanship of Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to give opinions on the draft "Pilot Project to Expand the School Milk Program in Nghe An Province for the 2016-2017 School Year".

Attendees included representatives from the Departments of Education and Training, Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Planning and Investment, and Finance; and representatives from TH True Milk Joint Stock Company.

According to the assessment, the results of the "Pilot School Milk Program in Nghe An Province in the 2015-2016 school year" project met or exceeded the set targets: 17 out of 21 districts and cities participated (the target was to pilot in 3 districts and cities); 50% of preschool and primary school students in the province participated; the malnutrition rate among participating students decreased significantly; and the pilot implementation received strong support from local Party committees, authorities, and all sectors of the population.

Comrade Le Minh Thong suggested that milk suppliers participate, coordinate, and work together with the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee to call for and mobilize other social resources to sponsor the school milk program.

Based on those results, at the meeting, the relevant parties agreed on the draft "Pilot Project to Expand the School Milk Program in Nghe An Province for the 2016-2017 School Year," according to which the goal is to encourage and mobilize 100% of children in preschool and primary schools in the province to drink milk 5 times a week, 180ml each time, for 9 months per school year.

Students in Ky Son district drink school milk on the first day of school (archive photo).

The program provides 100% funding for children from impoverished households, 50% for children from near-impoverished households, and 30% for children from other categories. The provincial budget guarantees 10% of the total socialized funding and support (in addition to parental contributions), but not exceeding 15 billion VND; the remaining portion is supported by milk suppliers and other sponsors.

Minh Quan