Connecting, training, and sharing experiences on ASEAN Eco-Schools

On the morning of October 8 in Can Tho City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held the workshop “Connecting, Training, and Sharing Experiences on ASEAN Eco-Schools - Plastic-Free Schools” as part of the ASEAN Eco-School Vietnam Awards 2025. The event gathered more than 100 in-person participants and 600 online attendees nationwide.

The workshop served as a platform to introduce the ASEAN Eco-School criteria to primary, lower, and upper secondary schools, offering guidance on how to integrate them into teaching, school management, and extracurricular programs. It also provided an opportunity for schools that have implemented the model or won previous ASEAN Eco-School Awards to share practical lessons, enabling teachers and administrators to apply the criteria effectively in their own schools.

Can Tho City is among Vietnam’s leading localities in promoting the eco-school movement, with numerous institutions having earned national and ASEAN-level awards. These schools have become exemplary models linking education, environmental protection, and community engagement.

Nguyen Van Khoi, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People’s Committee, emphasized that this achievement not only represents the pride of the city’s education sector but also highlights the collective efforts of teachers and students working together toward a greener future.

However, Khoi also pointed out that plastic and river pollution remain major challenges for the Mekong Delta and Can Tho in particular. According to a 2022 World Bank survey, the region is a hotspot for single-use plastic waste, accounting for 72% of total plastic waste. In urban riverside areas such as Can Tho, plastic waste density reached 34.5 items per survey unit - nearly three times higher than rural areas.

“This figure underscores how vital individual responsibility and youth action are in changing consumption habits and protecting our living environment", Khoi said.

Against this backdrop, the “Plastic-Free School” model carries urgent and practical significance, integrating environmental education into schools and nurturing eco-conscious behaviour from an early age. Khoi believes that simple actions, such as reducing plastic bottle use, sorting waste at source, or recycling learning materials, can help students become environmental ambassadors who inspire their families and communities.

He also urged the education sector to continue serving as a core force in expanding and institutionalising the “Eco-School - Plastic Reduction” model, making it a key criterion for assessing green, safe, and friendly schools. Local authorities, social organisations, and enterprises were encouraged to support schools with resources, communication campaigns, and practical environmental initiatives, particularly those reducing plastic waste.

At the closing session, Vu Minh Viet reaffirmed that the exchange and training activities were valuable for helping schools master the ASEAN Eco-School criteria and prepare effectively for the award process.

Earlier, on September 19, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment launched the ASEAN Eco-School Vietnam Awards 2025, aiming to raise environmental awareness and encourage innovation and creativity in teaching and learning.

The initiative contributes to building bright, green, clean, and beautiful schools aligned with national and regional sustainable development goals.

Nguyen Thanh Nguyen, Director of the UNESCO Center for the Conservation of National Cultural Heritage, remarked that the “ASEAN Eco-School Vietnam - Plastic-Free School” model reflects modern education values, creating green and sustainable learning environments where students not only acquire knowledge but also cultivate environmental responsibility and respect for community culture.

He added that the model promotes unity, compassion, and love for nature. Students learn about environmental protection not only through textbooks but also through hands-on experiences - keeping campuses clean, planting trees, organising “Plastic-Free Days,” and spreading a culture of civility and sustainability, embodying the spirit of “happy, green, and cultured schools".

Schools are invited to submit applications for the ASEAN Eco-School Vietnam Awards 2025 via:

Paper copy: Vietnam Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, Lot E2, Duong Dinh Nghe Street, Hanoi.

Online submission: compress into a single file and upload to www.Ecoschool.vn