Nhon Nghia Primary School: An ASEAN Eco-School in the heart of Can Tho

Located in Nhan Ai commune, Nhon Nghia 1 Primary School, now known simply as Nhon Nghia Primary School is not only a place of learning but also a model for environmental education and sustainable practices in Vietnam.

In 2023, the school was officially recognised as an ASEAN Eco-School, a title that brings pride to its teachers and students. It also serves as motivation to maintain and further enhance the standards of an ASEAN Eco-School while spreading “green values” to the wider community.

Shaded by rows of lush trees, the schoolyard exudes a sense of freshness and vitality. Along the classroom corridors, potted plants line up neatly, sprouting new leaves under the sunlight. In this vibrant space, children’s laughter blends harmoniously with birdsong, creating a peaceful and inspiring atmosphere.

Principal Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc shared: “Achieving this bright, green, and clean look has been a long journey of collective effort. Both teachers and students have worked together through regular curricular and extracurricular activities to make learning more engaging and closely connected to everyday life.”

At Nhon Nghia Primary School, students are not only taught core subjects such as Math, Vietnamese, and Science but are also encouraged to practice waste segregation, water and energy saving, and environmental cleanliness. Under the motto ‘Learning by Doing’, teachers guide students to recycle and reuse waste creatively.

Fifth-grader Le Nguyen Minh Triet said excitedly: “After class, we often help plant trees, clean the schoolyard, and sort plastic waste. During STEM lessons, our teachers show us how to turn plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, or old paper into useful items for our classroom or even planters for trees.”

Every week, all students take part in cleaning and collecting waste around the school, making environmental care a shared routine. Fourth-grader Nguyen Huu Thoai added that taking care of the school’s garden makes the space cooler and fresher, which helps students feel healthier and happier while studying.

Parents have also noticed the positive transformation. “We’re lucky my grandson studies here,” said Nguyen Huu Thuan, a resident of Nhan Thuan hamlet. “The school is always bright and clean. Its tree planting and recycling activities teach the kids to protect their surroundings, both at school and at home.”

One of the school’s highlights is its ‘Eco Vegetable Garden’, a 200-square-meter plot where teachers and students cultivate seasonal vegetables and herbs such as perilla, basil, ginger, and lemongrass. This hands-on learning model helps children understand the value of medicinal plants and contributes fresh, healthy food to school meals.

Teacher Huynh Kim Huong noted: “All 990 students join weekly activities like soil improvement, vegetable planting, or recycling. These sessions let them learn through play and gradually build environmental awareness from an early age.”

Beyond its greenery, Nhon Nghia Primary School has also developed a ‘Green Library’. Instead of borrowing books indoors, students can now read from recycled plastic tubes hung on tree trunks around the schoolyard. During breaks, they sit under the trees, reading while enjoying the fresh air. The initiative not only reduces library maintenance costs but also promotes reading culture and sustainable reuse.

According to Principal Ngoc, these outdoor activities make students feel the school is their “second home.” They decorate and care for plants themselves, then bring those habits home, helping create cleaner and greener neighbourhoods. Many have even become “young environmental ambassadors,” encouraging family and neighbours to sort waste and plant trees.

From greening its campus to building eco-gardens and a green library, Nhon Nghia Primary School has created a sustainable learning environment that is safe, clean, and inspiring.

With its remarkable achievements and continuous improvements toward ASEAN Eco-School standards, Nhon Nghia Primary School stands as a model for Can Tho to replicate, contributing to the city’s vision of green education and a sustainable future.

The school has proven that a true learning environment is not only where knowledge is shared, but where future generations learn to love nature, live responsibly, and care for their community.