Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh delivering a speech at the awards launch ceremony

Also in attendance were representatives from the Department of International Cooperation, the Center for Environmental Communication, leaders of the Fund for a Green Future (Thien Tam Fund from Vingroup), and nearly 100 delegates from schools across Hanoi. The event was organized to encourage the implementation of eco-school models throughout the country, creating a key momentum for environmental protection within the educational community and reaffirming Vietnam's commitment to ASEAN in this field.

In his speech, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh emphasized the critical role schools play in shaping the mindset, awareness, and responsibility of younger generations toward the environment. He highlighted that students should not only take actions to protect the environment in their daily lives but also become active advocates, spreading environmental awareness to their families and communities. Schools play a key role in cultivating green habits, from conserving resources to sorting waste, and students’ actions can inspire adults to think and act more environmentally responsibly.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh called on schools across the country to participate actively in this awards program

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh also called on elementary, middle, and high schools across the country to participate actively in this awards program, fostering the exchange of experiences regarding eco-school models and spreading a green and sustainable lifestyle. The awards aim not only to encourage schools to contribute to environmental protection but also to provide an opportunity for Vietnam to connect with other ASEAN countries in advancing environmental efforts in the educational sector.

Total prize pool of 1 billion VND

Being held on a national scale for the first time, the Vietnam ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards 2024 will honor exemplary schools with a total of 60 prizes, amounting to nearly 1 billion VND. Notably, the first, second, and third-place winning schools in the elementary and middle school categories will have the opportunity to be recommended for participation in the Awards Ceremony at the ASEAN Environment Ministers' Summit, to be held in 2025 in Malaysia. This demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to ASEAN’s goal of building green and sustainable education environments.

Representatives of the Organizing Committee conducting the event launch ceremony

Supporting the awards, the Fund for a Green Future, part of Vingroup, has pledged to assist schools aiming to enhance environmental education and improve facilities to create a greener, cleaner learning environment. In her speech, Ms. Le Thai Ha, Executive Director of the Fund for a Green Future, emphasized the importance of environmental education for younger generations: "Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to protect the environment is not only an educational task but a responsibility for the whole society."

Motivation and opportunities for schools nationwide

Along with commitments from various leaders, Professor Dang Kim Chi, a member of the Organizing Committee, shared her experience in environmental education and stressed the role of students in spreading the message to their families and communities. She highlighted that an eco-school is not only a place with green, clean, and beautiful landscapes but also a space where students are educated about long-term responsibility for environmental protection. Small actions, such as waste sorting, energy conservation, and participating in tree-planting activities, all contribute to building a sustainable future for younger generations.

Total prize value up to 1 billion VND

To ensure the awards have a wide-reaching impact, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh requested that related agencies actively promote the program and encourage all schools across the country, especially those in remote areas, border regions, and islands, to submit applications. Broad participation will help create a nationwide network of eco-schools, furthering environmental education from the earliest grades.

Applications for the awards will be accepted from October 7 to November 10, 2024, via the portal www.ecoschool.vn. Schools will be evaluated based on three main criteria: action plans, educational programs, and facilities related to environmental protection.

With a strong sense of responsibility, the Vietnam ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards 2024 aims to foster a generation that is deeply committed to environmental protection, promoting a green and sustainable lifestyle throughout society.

ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards overview

The ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards is an activity within the framework of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) program, entrusted to individual countries to organize, with winning schools honored at side events during ASOEN meetings or ASEAN Environment Ministers' Summits.

The awards, held every four years, are given to outstanding elementary and middle schools in ASEAN member states, recognizing best practices in the Eco-Schools Program and encouraging participation from other schools across the country in green initiatives. The award criteria were developed by a working group and approved by the ASEAN Secretariat.

The first ASEAN Eco-Schools Awards ceremony was held in Malaysia in July 2012, followed by Myanmar in July 2015, Cambodia in 2019, and Laos in August 2023 during the 17th ASEAN Environment Ministers' Meeting. Vietnam has nominated eight elementary and middle schools for recognition.

Ngoc Huyen