Decision 1717/QD-TTg 2024 approve Program to enhance education for students to prevent drowning in 2025-2035

DECISION

Approving the Program to enhance education on knowledge and skills for students to prevent and combat drowning in the 2025-2035 period

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THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the June 14, 2019 Law on Education;

Pursuant to the April 5, 2016 Law on Children;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 80/2017/ND-CP of July 17, 2017 prescribing a safe, healthy, and friendly educational environment and the prevention and combating of school violence;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP of January 05, 2024 on key tasks and solutions for implementing the Socio-Economic Development Plan and the State Budget Estimate for 2024;

At the proposal of the Minister of Education and Training.

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Program to enhance education on knowledge and skills for students to prevent and combat drowning in the 2025-2035 period (below referred to as the Program), with the following contents:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

Enhancing education on knowledge and skills for students to prevent and combat drowning with a view to improving their ability to self-prevent and self-protect from the risk of drowning; ensuring the conditions and effectively organize safe swimming lessons for students to increase the percentage of students that can swim and possess the skills of drowning prevention and combating, contributing to a reduction in the rate of student drownings.

2. Specific objectives 

a) Strengthening communication on preventing and combating student drownings

By 2030, 95% of school administrators, teachers, students, parents, and related individuals will have been informed to raise awareness, knowledge, and responsibility for preventing and combating student drownings, and achieving 100% coverage by 2035.

b) Educating students on the knowledge and skills of drowning prevention and combating in schools

By 2030, 70% of students will be taught knowledge and practice skills of preventing and combating drowning, with the rate increasing to 90% by 2035.

c) Effectively organizing safe swimming lessons for students

By 2030, at least 55% of 5th-grade students, 65% of 9th-grade students, and 75% of 12th-grade students will know how to swim safely.

By 2035, at least 70% of 5th-grade students, 80% of 9th-grade students, and 90% of 12th-grade students will know how to swim safely.

d) Increasing investment in building and installing swimming pools in schools and communities

- By 2030, at least 20% of primary schools and 15% of secondary and high schools will have swimming pools (fixed or mobile) and maintain effective operation. 50% of communes, wards, and towns will have at least one swimming pool to support safe swimming lessons for children and students in the area.

- By 2035, at least 30% of primary schools and 25% of secondary and high schools will have swimming pools (fixed or mobile) and maintain effective operation. 70% of communes, wards, and towns will have at least one swimming pool to support safe swimming lessons for children and students in the area.

dd) Strengthening the task of training and capacity building for teachers on preventing and combating drowning and safe swimming teaching.

- By 2030, 70% of administrators and teachers will receive training to enhance their capacity in drowning prevention and combating for students, with the rate increasing to 95% by 2035.

- By 2030, 85% of school healthcare staff will receive training and capacity-building in preventing and combating drowning and first aid for drowning, with the rate reaching 100% by 2035.

- By 2030, each school will have at least 02 teachers trained, certified, and fully qualified to organize safe swimming lessons for students, increasing to at least three teachers by 2035.

II. SUBJECTS AND SCOPE

1. Subjects

- General education students and continuing education learners (collectively referred to as students) in primary, secondary, and high schools, aged 6 to under 18.

- Administrators, teachers, and school healthcare staff in general education schools, continuing education centers, and vocational education - continuing education centers; parents and related organizations and individuals.

2. Scope

The program will be implemented in general education schools, continuing education centers, and vocational education - continuing education centers nationwide, with a focus on primary and secondary levels, as well as in community areas at the commune level (where swimming pools are invested to provide education on the knowledge and skills of drowning prevention and combating for students in the area).

III. KEY TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Organizing communication campaigns to raise awareness and responsibility for preventing and combating student drownings

- To develop and standardize the content, and digitize communication materials tailored to specific subjects, including administrators, teachers, parents, and students at each educational level.

- To regularly organize communication activities to raise awareness and responsibility of administrators, educators, parents, sectors, authorities, organizations, individuals, and students regarding drowning prevention and combating. To diversify communication formats and methods to suit each subject and the specific characteristics of regions, natural conditions, and socio-economic context of each locality.

- To annually conduct peak campaigns and launch events to promote communication and education efforts, raising awareness so that students understand and comply with regulations on drowning prevention and combating, particularly educating students in each class to recognize unsafe locations and potential drowning risks before summer vacations, holidays, and the Tet holiday.

- To strengthen the role and responsibility of central and local media agencies, as well as families, schools, and society, in communication activities to raise awareness and promote compliance with safety regulations on drowning prevention and combating for students at all times and in all places.

2. Educating students on the knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning and teaching safe swimming lessons.

- To integrate educational content on knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning for students into lessons of various subjects and related educational activities.

- To develop educational content and materials on knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning for students tailored to each educational level and organize to implement through life skills education programs conducted outside regular classroom hours. To organize activities, such as games and competitions, for students to take part in and learn about the knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning.

- To develop materials and guidelines for teachers on teaching safe swimming within the Physical Education curriculum. To provide guidance for students to choose swimming lessons as an optional component of the Physical Education curriculum and recognize their swimming achievements obtained outside the school setting.

- To develop programs, materials, and guidelines for assessing outcomes and organizing safe swimming lessons for students at primary, secondary and high schools during extracurricular hours. For schools not having the conditions to organize safe swimming lessons for students in schools: implementing the coordination and linkage of swimming teaching in local school clusters or coordinating with parents and connecting with swimming pools outside the school to organize safe swimming lessons for students according to the program and guiding documents, with the coordination, supervision and evaluation of the schools.

- To equip schools and community learning centers with libraries and digital learning materials regarding the education on knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning.

- To promote the role and facilitate Youth Unions and Young Pioneer organizations in schools and communities at all levels to participate in propaganda, education and guidance for students on drowning prevention and combating skills in schools and residential areas.

3. Reviewing and improving mechanisms and policies for organizing safe swimming lessons in schools

- To review, amend and supplement relevant documents and policies on investment in facilities and funds for the organization of teaching safe swimming, preventing and combating student drownings in schools. In particular, focusing on preferential regimes and policies on land, encouraging the attraction of both domestic and foreign resources to invest in the construction of swimming pools and equipment ensuring the organization of swimming lessons, provide equipment, support training and organize swimming teaching activities in schools.

- To review and promulgate documents prescribing the organization of safe swimming lessons in schools; to guide the expenditure of funds for a course of safe swimming and drowning prevention and combating for one student; to conduct guidelines on special allowance policies for swimming teachers and lifeguards at swimming pools serving students outside school hours.

4. Investing in facilities, swimming pools, and regular operating budgets for schools

- To develop a plan to gradually invest in the construction, installation, and effective maintenance of swimming pools in schools (including both fixed and mobile swimming pools, as well as swimming equipment, lifesaving tools, and related auxiliary facilities) to ensure safe swimming lessons for students. To invest in individual schools, school clusters, or community-based swimming pools to collectively support safe swimming instruction and drowning prevention and combating for children and students in the area.

- To allocate regular operating funds for the maintenance of swimming pools established in schools or communities; to ensure continuous operation and maximize the utilization of their functions for the intended purposes. To mobilize contributions from students' families when organizing safe swimming courses for students in schools, in accordance with the rates prescribed by the competent authorities.

- To mobilize and attract investments from individuals, organizations, and businesses for the construction of swimming pools, and collaborate to effectively utilize and manage swimming pools in schools and communities in accordance with regulations.

- To effectively and appropriately integrate with programs and projects approved by the Government; particularly for disadvantaged localities and regions, to effectively integrate and utilize funding from ongoing National Target Programs, ensuring consistency and efficiency during the implementation of the Program.

5. Providing training and capacity-building for administrators, teachers, and school healthcare staff

- To develop programs and materials, and regularly provide training for school administrators, teachers, and school health staff on education regarding knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning and first aid for drowning incidents.

- To develop programs and organize training to enhance methods and skills for safe swimming instruction for physical education teachers, part-time teachers, and lifeguards at swimming pools, ensuring adequate quantity, qualifications, and capability for effective implementation. To encourage school staff, teachers, and employees to participate in training courses on safe swimming instruction and lifesaving methods to support the organization of swimming lessons in schools.

6. Strengthening intersectoral coordination between schools and related organizations and individuals

- To establish an effective coordination mechanism between the Education sector and the sectors of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Health; the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; the Vietnam Women's Union; and other relevant sectors and organizations; to integrate the organization of education on knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning and safe swimming instruction with activities for child protection and care, prevention and combating of child injuries, and the organization of swimming practice and competitions for students.

- To collaborate to effectively utilize local cultural and sports facilities to support the organization of safe swimming instruction for students.

- To strengthen the participation, supervision, feedback of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, as well as the collaboration in expertise, training, and evaluation by the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association and professional organizations related to drowning prevention and combating.

- To mobilize the participation of international organizations, social organizations, businesses, other relevant organizations and individuals to support the construction and installation of swimming pools, training equipment, and lifesaving tools; to provide training and professional development for teachers; to organize communication activities and assist in establishing model initiatives for safe swimming instruction and drowning prevention and combating for students.

7. Developing a monitoring and evaluation system

- To develop a database on the current status of facilities and the number of swimming pools effectively operating in schools and community areas; the number of teachers trained and qualified to provide safe swimming instruction for students; the number of students meeting the standards of safe swimming and drowning prevention and combating; the number of children and students experiencing drowning incidents, categorized by locality and region.

- To develop software and tools for statistical analysis, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs on knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning, as well as safe swimming instruction for students; to regularly evaluate the outcomes of the implementation of programs in schools and swimming training facilities.

IV. ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall:

a) Act as the standing body in charge of developing plans and organizing the implementation of the Program. Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with other ministries, sectors, and localities to implement the following tasks and solutions:

- Review, develop, amend, supplement, and promulgate necessary mechanisms and policies related to the tasks of educating knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning and safe swimming instruction for students, within its own authority or proposing to competent authorities for the issuance. Issue programs, materials, and guidelines for monitoring and evaluating the organization of safe swimming instruction for students.

- Issue programs, materials, and guidelines for training and capacity-building to enhance education on the knowledge and skills of school administrators, teachers, and school health staff in preventing and combating drowning and safe swimming instruction.

- Develop materials and provide guidelines for implementing communication activities on drowning prevention for students in schools.

- Proactively coordinate with ministries and sectors during the implementation process to integrate the objectives and tasks of this Program with national target programs and other programs and projects of the Government and localities.

b) Develop tools and organize the inspection, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation of the Program; propose adjustments or additions to the content of the Program if necessary; conduct a preliminary review of the Program in 2030 and a final review in 2035.

2. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall:

a) Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to direct and implement the Program in conjunction with programs and projects on the prevention and combating of child incidents and injuries. Strengthen the role of inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration in efforts to prevent and combat children drowning.

b) Continue to assume the prime responsibility for and organize the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1248/QD-TTg of July 19, 2021 approving the Program for the Prevention and combating of Child incidents and injuries for the 2021-2030 period.

3. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall:

a) Issue the criteria for assessing children and students' ability to swim safely; standards for the construction of swimming pools in schools and community areas; regulations to ensure safety during the organization of swimming lessons for children and students.

b) Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to develop content, programs, and materials, and collaborate in organizing training, capacity-building and grant certificates of safe swimming instruction to teachers.

4. The Ministry of Health shall:

a) Assume the prime responsibility for providing guidelines on drowning first aid and the necessary tools and equipment for first aid at swimming pools.

b) Direct healthcare services at all levels to collaborate with the education sector in providing guidance, training, and capacity-building on preventing and combating injury and initial first aid for drowning incidents for school administrators, teachers, and school health staff.

5. The Ministry of Finance shall:

Consolidate and allocate funding for the implementation of the Program in accordance with the laws on state budget and the annual balancing capacity of the state budget.

6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall

Assume the prime responsibility for consolidating and submitting medium-term and annual public investment plans to the Government and the Prime Minister to implement programs and projects approved by competent authorities, in accordance with regulations, to carry out the Program.

 7. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for advising and directing the enhancement of communication efforts on preventing and combating drowning for children and students through central and local press agencies.

- Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to develop and complete databases and software for monitoring and evaluating the education of knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning and safe swimming instruction for students.

8. People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities shall:

a) Direct the development and approval of specific projects, programs, and plans for implementing the Program at the localities; allocate funding and gradually invest in the construction of swimming pools in schools and communities, with a focused and prioritized approach, especially for primary schools and schools in disadvantaged areas.

b) Submit to the People's Council for approval the tuition fee rates and service charges for supporting educational activities, including specific regulations and guidelines on collection and expenditure when organizing safe swimming lessons for students in schools and communities.

c) Direct the Department of Education and Training to issue plans and provide guidance for schools on implementing education programs for knowledge and skills in preventing and combating drowning and safe swimming instruction for students; organize capacity-building training for school administrators, teachers, and school health staff on educating knowledge and skills of preventing and combating drowning, first aid for drowning incidents, and safe swimming instruction for students.

d) Direct local authorities, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and relevant agencies to coordinate with the local education sector in developing mechanisms for effectively utilizing swimming pools under their management to organize safe swimming lessons for students.

dd) Inspect, monitor, and annually report on the implementation of the Program at the localities, and submit the report to the Ministry of Education and Training for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

9. Requesting the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union

a) To direct and guide Youth Union and Team organizations at all levels to collaborate with the education sector and local authorities in organizing activities on safe swimming instruction and drowning prevention and combating for children and students in community areas, especially during students' summer vacations.

b) To coordinate with the education sector and local authorities in conducting communication campaigns on drowning prevention and combating; managing and supervising students during summer vacations to prevent and combat drowning incidents and injuries.

10. Requesting international organizations, professional associations, organizations and individuals operating in the fields of education, child protection and care, physical education, and sports

a) To coordinate and support the education sector and local authorities in mobilizing resources and socializing the implementation of the Program; develop projects that directly support the activities of the Program at ministries, sectors, and localities.

b) To collaborate in propaganda and dissemination of knowledge on ensuring safety and preventing and combating drowning for students and their parents, and provide training to enhance the capacity of teachers in safe swimming instruction.

c) To implement interventions for safe swimming instruction and teaching water safety skills in accordance with current standards and regulations; support the evaluation, review, and sharing of experiences regarding effective and sustainable intervention models for preventing and combating drowning among children and students.

V. FUNDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM

1. The funding for implementing the Program shall be ensured by the state budget according to the current budget management decentralization and other lawful sources.

2. Annually, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, pursuant to the tasks assigned in the Program, shall estimate the budget for implementing the Program, then incorporate it into their overall budget estimates, and submit to the competent authorities for budget allocation in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the State Budget and other guiding documents for implementation.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and related organizations and individuals shall implement this Decision./.