Currently, the Education sector plays an important role in communicating and enforcing the ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in school environments.
The rate of young people using new tobacco products is increasing in big cities, including students. This stems from the ease of buying and selling products through social networking groups.
Sharing at the seminar "Implementing regulations banning electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products - things that need to be done" organized by Lao Dong Newspaper, Master, Doctor Nguyen Tuan Lam, representative of the World Health Organization WHO in Vietnam said: "For students using electronic cigarettes, there should be coordinated measures between school and family, such as community service".
In Singapore, students are screened for e-cigarettes at school. Violators are required to attend vaping classes, talk to experts, and participate in community activities.
In Vietnam, the Ministry of Education and Training has developed a set of guidelines for teachers and propaganda materials on the harmful effects of tobacco for students. According to the Law on Education, smoking, gambling, and drinking alcohol are all prohibited.
“The current legal environment in the education sector has been very good. However, to effectively implement it, two issues need to be noted. That is, the inspectors need to be oriented and guided to identify products and related legal regulations and encouraged to spend more time paying attention to the issue of handling violations” - Ms. Doan Thu Huyen, Country Director in Vietnam, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, USA expressed.
As for families, relatives should pay attention to the orders that students place. In fact, many electronic cigarette products are delivered under the name of acne cream, technology toys to fool parents.
According to Ms. Thu Huyen, the education sector needs more connection between parents and schools. This helps ensure that students are properly supervised and taught both at school and at home.
“We expect parents to be role models for their children. Because children’s smoking behavior will be greatly affected if their relatives have the habit of smoking. Parents should be friends who share and remind their children about the harmful effects of smoking,” Ms. Thu Huyen shared.
