ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam 2025 Award aims for sustainability

At the press briefing announcing the ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam 2025 Award, a range of key issues related to the Award’s orientation, criteria and spillover value were discussed. Among the most notable highlights was the shift toward a more focused thematic approach, centring on plastic waste reduction.

Speaking at the event on January 27, Professor Dr. Dang Thi Kim Chi noted that the 2025 Award introduces an important adjustment by selecting a clearly defined core theme, rather than adopting a broad and general approach to environmental protection as in previous years. According to her, this direction is well aligned with current global demands, as plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most serious environmental challenges, directly affecting ecosystems, public health and sustainable development.

She emphasised that choosing a specific theme allows school-based activities to go deeper, with clear objectives that are easier to implement and evaluate. At the same time, the theme is closely linked to Viet Nam’s international commitments and the ongoing efforts of environmental authorities to control plastic pollution, promote the circular economy and foster changes in community consumption behaviour.

Another notable feature of this year’s Award is the enthusiastic participation of schools in remote and disadvantaged areas, where infrastructure and resources remain limited.

Practical implementation shows that many plastic waste reduction models in these areas are built on simple yet effective actions, such as waste separation at source, reuse of materials, limiting single-use plastics in school canteens, and organising communication and extracurricular activities closely connected to local daily life.

Beyond recognition, the ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam Award also emphasizes sustainability through post-competition maintenance mechanisms. According to Professor Dang Thi Kim Chi, many schools have proactively established environmental funds derived from waste sorting, collection and recycling activities. These funds are then used to expand plastic reduction initiatives, invest in communication activities and raise environmental awareness among students.

In addition, numerous schools have actively mobilised the participation of parents and local communities to strengthen resources and broaden the scope of impact.

At the same press briefing, representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) raised questions regarding the composition of the judging panel and the assessment criteria. Ms. Le Anh Lan, representing UNICEF, asked about the make-up of the Jury Council and the evaluation process for different award categories, particularly the Creativity Award.

Responding to these queries, Mr. Bui Duc Hieu, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department and Deputy Head of the Award Organising Committee, said that the Jury Council for the ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam 2025 Award was established under a decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, with a total of nine members.

The Chair of the Jury Council is Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, while Mr. Bui Duc Hieu serves as Vice Chair. The remaining members were selected to ensure representativeness and strong professional expertise, in line with the nature of the Award. They include representatives of state management agencies in environment and education, respected experts, scientists, and educators, as well as representatives of international organisations working in environmental protection and education. This approach is intended to ensure objectivity, diversity of perspectives and alignment with ASEAN-level standards.

Regarding the Creativity Award, a category attracting considerable interest from participating schools, Mr. Bui Duc Hieu noted that its criteria are clearly stipulated in the Award Regulations issued by the Organising Committee. This category honours outstanding models and initiatives that demonstrate innovation, effectiveness and strong potential for replication and scaling in school-based environmental protection, particularly in reducing plastic waste.

The ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam 2025 Award Ceremony is scheduled to take place at 8:00 a.m. on January 31, 2026, at Hanoi Children’s Palace No. 2, Pham Hung Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi. The ceremony will be chaired by leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and broadcast live on Vietnam Agriculture and Environment Broadcast as well as the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature News online platform (nongnghiepmoitruong.vn). The event will also be accessible online via Zoom (Meeting ID: 973 8347 6746; Passcode: SA3101).