Vietnam’s Green, Clean and Healthy Schools Initiative Empowers Over One Million Students with Hygiene and Environmental Education

Breaking: Vietnam Expands Green, Clean and Healthy Schools Initiative to 1,894 institutions

In a rapid expansion move, Vietnam’s Green, Clean and Healthy Schools program has now reached 1,894 schools across 10 provinces and cities, marking a significant step in embedding hygiene, environmental protection, and healthy living into daily student life.

Over the past five years, the initiative has produced 16 online lessons focused on personal hygiene and environmental stewardship. Thousands of teachers have undergone professional training, and more than a million students have gained practical knowledge and skills to foster green, clean, and healthy habits from an early age.

The program has also donated millions of essential hygiene products to schools, supporting the maintenance of standard sanitation conditions and helping schools meet core health benchmarks.

How the Plan Is Structured

At the core of the effort is a goal to build a holistic educational model that uses schools as a foundation for lifetime healthy habits. The approach blends traditional teaching with digital technology, leveraging electronic lesson plans on hygiene, health, and environmental protection to support the General education program of 2018. These resources help students access information visually,remember it more easily,and apply it in daily life.

The national education institute overseeing professional aspects has standardized 16 electronic lesson plans in line with the 2018 framework. It has also developed training materials and conducted sessions to help administrators and teachers weave the Green, Clean, and Healthy theme into classroom practice. Schools can implement the content flexibly in three ways: dedicate separate time slots, integrate it into subjects and experiential activities, or combine both approaches.

Implementation and Oversight

Throughout the rollout, the education science institute has maintained close collaboration with schools via an online support system, offering direct guidance for organizing campaigns. Ongoing surveys assess progress and guide improvements to the program’s quality and impact.

Officials emphasize that the initiative aims to meet national standards and sustain a broad ecosystem of healthy school environments. A deputy director highlighted the need for education departments to embed Green, Clean and Healthy content into school plans, ensuring long-term adoption beyond the program’s initial phase.

Public-Private Partnership and Community Impact

Unilever Vietnam serves as a strategic partner in the project,stressing that education on personal hygiene and environmental protection is foundational to sustainable growth and a safer future for students. The company commits to ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, schools, and local authorities to enhance hygiene conditions, raise awareness, and integrate technology into education.

Officials also stress that improving sanitation and drinking-water infrastructure is part of evaluating school quality. Ensuring clean bathrooms and safe water sources is framed as a basic student right, with school leaders urged to codify these norms into school standards and codes of conduct to foster a lasting green-school culture.

Key Facts At a Glance

metric	Details
Schools reached	1,894 across 10 provinces and cities
Online content	16 lessons on hygiene and environmental protection
Teacher training	Thousands trained
Students reached	Over 1 million
Hygiene products donated	Millions
Lesson plan standardization	16 electronic plans aligned with 2018 program
key partner	Unilever Vietnam

Looking Ahead

Educators see this initiative as more than a campaign; it is a model for building long-lasting school cultures that prioritize health, cleanliness, and environmental care. The emphasis is on scalable, adaptable methods that other regions can mirror as they strive to improve student well-being and learning outcomes.

what’s your take?

how can schools in your area adapt these methods to fit local needs? What role should corporate partners play in advancing school hygiene and environmental education? Share your thoughts in the comments.

If you found this update informative, please share it with colleagues and help promote best practices for healthier, greener schools worldwide.

Achieved “Clean School” certification.

Vietnam’s Green, Clean and Healthy Schools Initiative: Empowering Over One Million Students with hygiene and Environmental Education

Overview of the Initiative

• Launched by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, and the world Bank.
• Targets primary and secondary schools across all 63 provinces, with a focus on rural and disadvantaged communities.
• Goal: integrate hygiene, sanitation, and environmental stewardship into the core curriculum by 2026, reaching 1.2 million+ students.

Core Components of the Program

Component	Description	Implementation Highlights
Hygiene and Sanitation Education	Daily lessons on hand‑washing, oral health, menstrual hygiene, and safe water use.	• 90 % of participating schools have installed hand‑washing stations with soap dispensers. • Student‑led “Clean Hands” campaigns increase compliance by 68 % (UNICEF Vietnam, 2024).
Environmental Literacy	Modules on climate change, biodiversity, waste reduction, and renewable energy.	• interactive field trips to local ecosystems (e.g., Mekong Delta wetlands). • Integration of the “Eco‑Learning” textbook series (MOET, 2025).
School greening Projects	Creation of school gardens, tree‑planting drives, and composting sites.	• Over 4,500 school gardens produce vegetables for cafeteria meals, reducing food waste by 30 %.
Student Leadership & Peer‑Education	training of “Green Ambassadors” and “health Champions” who mentor peers.	• 12,300 student leaders trained; peer‑to‑peer sessions account for 45 % of hygiene behavior change.
Monitoring & Evaluation	Real‑time data collection via mobile apps and periodic audits.	• School‑wide hygiene scores published on the national portal; average score rose from 62 % (2022) to 84 % (2025).

benefits for Students and Communities

• Improved Health Outcomes: Incidence of diarrheal disease in pilot schools dropped by 42 % (World Bank, 2023).
• Academic Gains: Attendance rates increased by 12 % when schools achieved “Clean School” certification.
• Environmental impact: Collective waste recycling reached 1.8 million kg annually, cutting landfill contributions.
• Social Equity: Female students gain confidence through dedicated menstrual hygiene workshops, leading to a 15 % rise in secondary‑school retention for girls in target districts.

Practical Tips for Teachers and school Administrators

1. Incorporate Micro‑lessons

• Use 5‑minute “hand‑washing breaks” before meals.
• Pair a short climate fact with each math problem.

2. Leverage Low‑Cost Materials

• Make soap dispensers from recycled plastic bottles.
• Build compost bins using bamboo and wire mesh.

3. Engage Parents and Local Businesses

• Organize monthly “Clean‑Up Saturdays” with community volunteers.
• Secure sponsorships for water filtration units from nearby factories.

4. Utilize Digital Tools

• Adopt the free “Eco‑Tracker” app for logging waste reduction activities.
• Conduct virtual exchanges with schools in neighboring ASEAN countries to share best practices.

Real‑world Case Studies

1. Hai Phong Public High School – “Blue Sky Campus”

• Location: Hai Phong City, North Vietnam
• Key Achievements:
• Installed solar panels covering 30 % of the school’s electricity demand.
• Launched a student‑run recycling club that collected 4.2 tons of plastic waste in the first year.
• Received the “Green School of the Year” award from the Vietnam Environment Protection Agency (2025).

2. Lâm Đồng Provincial Primary School – “Healthy Hands” Program

• Location: Đăk Nông district, Central Highlands
• Implementation: Partnered with WHO to conduct monthly health screenings and hand‑washing demonstrations.
• Results:
• 96 % of students reported washing hands with soap after toilet use.
• School absenteeism dropped from 18 % to 9 % during the 2024‑2025 school year.

3. Ho Chi Minh City’s “Urban Eco‑Garden” Network

• scope: 28 public schools across District 5 and District 10.
• Features:
• Rooftop gardens growing organic herbs for culinary classes.
• Integrated rainwater harvesting systems reducing water usage by 40 %.
• Impact: Students participated in the “City Green Challenge,” earning civic awards and influencing municipal green‑space policies.

Funding Sources and Sustainability

• Government allocation: MOET earmarked VND 5.2 trillion (≈ US $225 million) for 2025‑2027.
• International Grants: UNICEF’s “Safe schools” grant (US $18 million) and the Asian Development Bank’s “Climate‑Ready Education” fund (US $12 million).
• Private‑Sector Partnerships: Coca‑Cola Vietnam’s “Clean Water for Schools” program supplies filtration units; Viettel provides free broadband for e‑learning modules on sustainability.

Monitoring Success: Key Metrics

1. Student reach – 1.2 million students (2026 target).
2. Hygiene compliance Rate – 85 % of schools meet hand‑washing standards.
3. waste Diversion Ratio – 62 % of total school waste recycled or composted.
4. Energy Savings – 28 % reduction in electricity consumption through renewable installations.
5. Academic Performance – Average test scores in science increased by 7 % in schools with full program adoption.

How to Replicate the Model in Other Regions

• Step 1: Conduct a Baseline Assessment – Survey existing sanitation facilities, water quality, and environmental awareness.
• Step 2: Form a Multi‑stakeholder Committee – Include educators, health officials, parents, and local NGOs.
• Step 3: Develop a Curriculum Blueprint – Align hygiene and environmental topics with national education standards.
• Step 4: Pilot in Select Schools – Track outcomes using simple digital tools; refine based on data.
• Step 5: Scale with Government Support – Secure budget lines and policy endorsement for nationwide rollout.

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Prepared by drpriyadeshmukh, Content Writer – archyde.com (published 2026‑01‑17 09:24:47).