Many localities in Nghe An have not done a good job of preventing drowning and injuries.

FromFrom June 1, 2020 to June 7, 2020, the Department of Education and Training inspected the work of preventing accidents, injuries, drowning and preventing school violence in 9 districts: Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Ky Son, Nghia Dan, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Nghi Loc, Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai town.

Through inspection, it was found that, based on documents from superiors, the Department of Education and Training of districts promptly issued or advised the District People's Committee to issue documents and deploy a number of activities to implement regulations on injury prevention, drowning prevention and school violence prevention in the 2019-2020 school year.

The inspection team installed warning signs about drowning in Anh Son district. Photo: MH

Many schools have organized teachers and students to sign a commitment not to violate the law, social evils, school violence, or teacher ethics; and organized many activities to create a friendly and safe educational environment.

Some units have proactively deployed models to prevent drowning, in which Nghi Loc unit has coordinated with local businesses to organize free swimming lessons for students through mobile swimming pools.

However, there are still limitations such as the implementation of directive documents and documents on coordination between many units is still general, inconsistent, slow, and reactive... The involvement of some local authorities is not really drastic and regular. The consultation on the Regulations on coordination between related units in ensuring school security and safety, preventing school violence, accidents and injuries, and preventing drowning is not tight.

At some locations inspected and reviewed, there were few signs warning of drowning risks, some signs were old and damaged and had not been replaced; drowning rescue poles were not fully equipped (for example: at the beach of Hoang Mai town; at ponds and lakes in Quynh Tam commune, Quynh Luu district; at Dong Hop commune, Quy Hop district; at Ta Ca commune, Ky Son district; at Lang Son and Khai Son communes, Anh Son district).

Inspection team on ensuring tree safety at schools in Nghia Dan district. Photo: MH

Some school campuses do not have adequate facilities, drainage ditches do not have safety covers, the electricity and water systems are not safe and some trees are at risk of being uprooted or broken (Quynh Tam Primary School, Quynh Luu District; Nghia An Secondary School, Nghia Dan District). Some construction works near the school, in the school and in the area are not carefully covered, there are few warning signs (Quynh Phuong Kindergarten, Hoang Mai Town; Chau Cuong Primary School, Dong Hop Primary School No. 1, Chau Thai Secondary School, Quy Hop District).

The psychological counseling work of many units is not really systematic and the activities are not really effective. Many units have not yet established a School Social Work Team (Quynh Van Primary School, Quynh Van Secondary School, Hoang Mai High School, Quy Hop 2 High School...). Some school units have not widely publicized the school's communication and behavior regulations (Ta Ca Commune Schools, Cam Son Primary School...).

After the incident at Ba Ra dam, drowning prevention work is regularly warned. Photo: MH

To overcome these limitations, the Department of Education and Training requires localities to continue to direct the promotion of advantages, overcome shortcomings and limitations; promote propaganda in many diverse and rich forms; strengthen inspection, supervision, urging, reminding cadres, teachers, staff, and students to properly implement measures to prevent accidents and injuries, prevent drowning, and school violence, especially in the summer and during the rainy and stormy season.

At the same time, instruct educational institutions to strengthen life skills education for students (communication skills, behavior skills, emotional control and restraint skills; escape skills, swimming skills, first aid for victims of accidents and drowning, etc.).

In addition, it is necessary to preside over and coordinate with the District Police, District Youth Union, departments, branches, and associations to sign all regulations/programs/coordination plans, ensuring close coordination between the three educational environments: School, family, and society to manage, educate, and ensure absolute security and safety for students and children in the area...