The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has requested making environmental protection part of curriculums nationwide in 2014.

Students to be taught about environmental protection

Departments of education and training, universities and colleges and the ministry’s research institutes and centres are responsible for making the plans for next year.

They must draw out programmes, compile textbooks and prepare documents and accessories on environmental protection for all education levels.

They are required to hold training on the issue for teachers across the country along with organising activities to raise people awareness of environmental protection.

The ministry also requested these institutions to make reports to review environmental protection in 2012 and 2013.

Required environmental protection reports and plans for 2014 must be sent to the MoET prior to July 10 this year.

Tran Quang Quy, Deputy Minister of Education and Training said, “With over 22 million pupils and students nationwide, the education sector plays an important role in communication on clean water and environmental sanitation.” He made the statement at the launch ceremony of the national target programme for clean water and environmental sanitation at schools for the 2012-2015 period late last year.

According to Nguyen Van Tai, Director of Institute for Strategic Policy of Natural Resources and Environment, the country plans to invest over USD50 billion in the national environmental protection strategy through 2020.

“Vietnam’s environment is being seriously degraded as a result of development, causing critical environmental pollution. The country has to spend a lot on environmental protection,” he explained.

He added that the funding would not only come from the state budget but also contribution and support from domestic and foreign individuals, enterprises and organisations.