Joint Circular No. 13/2016/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT on school health work.

JOINT CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON SCHOOL HEALTH WORK

This Circular prescribes procedures for receiving, providing health care for domestic violence victims and statistical reports on domestic violence victims at medical facilities.

Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Directive No. 23/2006/CT-TTg dated July 12, 2006 of the Government Chairman on strengthening school health work;

The Minister of Health and the Minister of Education and Training issue this Circular to stipulate school health work.This Circular stipulates school health work, including provisions on facilities, equipment, learning environment, and healthcare related to students' health in schools. School health work applies to preschool education institutions; primary schools; secondary schools; high schools; general education schools with multiple levels; specialized schools excluding schools for disabled persons, handicapped individuals, and correctional schools (hereinafter referred to as schools); relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals. In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. School hygiene refers to conditions ensuring the environment, school and classroom facilities, equipment, teaching and learning hygiene practices, physical exercise and sports hygiene, and health care in schools.

2. School-related diseases and disabilities refer to diseases and disabilities that students suffer from due to unsatisfactory school hygiene conditions.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

1. Sources of funding for school health work include:

a) Annual public health and education and training funds according to current budget classification of units;

b) Student health insurance funds according to current regulations;

1. The funding for the implementation of the policy on exemption and subsidy of tuition fees shall be guaranteed by the state budget in accordance with the provisions of the law on the decentralization of budget management.

c) Donations and support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in accordance with laws and other lawful sources of income.

2. Funding for school health work must be used for their intended purposes and in accordance with current state regulations.

3. Budget preparation, execution, and settlement for funding school health work shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations.

CONTENT OF SCHOOL HEALTH WORK

Article 4. Ensuring Conditions for Classrooms, Desks, Chairs, Blackboards, Lighting, and Toys in Schools

1. Classrooms

Chapter II

a) For preschool education institutions: meeting design requirements as specified in Section 5.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 3907: 2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN dated August 23, 2011 of the Minister of Science and Technology on announcing national standards (hereinafter referred to as Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN);

b) For primary schools; primary classes in general education schools with multiple levels and in specialized schools: meeting design requirements as specified in Section 5.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8793: 2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN;

c) For secondary schools; high schools; secondary classes, high school classes in general education schools with multiple levels and in specialized schools: meeting design requirements as specified in Section 5.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8794: 2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN.

2. Desks and chairs

a) For preschool education institutions: desk and chair dimensions apply according to Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 1993) Desk and Chair for Preschool Children - General Requirements;

b) For primary schools; secondary schools; high schools; general education schools with multiple levels; specialized schools: desk and chair dimensions apply according to the guidelines set forth in Joint Circular No. 26/2011/TTLT-BGDĐT-BKHCN-BYT dated June 16, 2011 of the Ministry of Education and Training - Ministry of Science and Technology - Ministry of Health guiding the standard for desks and chairs for primary school students, secondary school students, and high school students.

3. Blackboards for general education levels

a) Classrooms must be equipped with glare-resistant blackboards; the color should be green or black (if using white chalk), or white (if using marker pens);

b) The width of the blackboard ranges from 1.2m to 1.5m, and the length ranges from 2.0m to 3.2m;

c) The blackboard should be hung in the middle of the wall, the bottom edge of the blackboard should be 0.65m to 0.80m above the floor for primary schools and 0.8m to 1.0m for secondary schools and high schools, the distance to the first student's desk should not be less than 1.8m.

4. Lighting

a) For preschool education institutions: design requirements apply as specified in Section 6.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 3907:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN;

b) For primary schools; primary classes in general education schools with multiple levels and in specialized schools: design requirements apply as specified in Section 6.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8793:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN;

c) For secondary schools; high schools; secondary classes, high school classes in general education schools with multiple levels and in specialized schools: design requirements apply as specified in Section 6.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8794:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN.

5. Toys for children in schools

Toys for children in schools must comply with the provisions set forth in Circular No. 16/2011/TT-BGDĐT dated April 13, 2011 of the Minister of Education and Training on equipping, managing, and using toys for children in educational institutions.

c) For junior high schools; senior high schools; junior high school classes and senior high school classes in general education schools with multiple levels and specialized schools: the design requirements shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.2 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8794:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QD-BKHCN.

5. Toys for children in schools

Toys for children in schools must comply with the regulations set forth in Circular No. 16/2011/TT-BGDĐT dated April 13, 2011, issued by the Minister of Education and Training on equipping, managing, and using toys for children in educational institutions.

Article 5. Ensuring conditions for water supply and environmental sanitation in schools

1. Ensuring drinking water and domestic water

a) Schools provide sufficient drinking water for students, at least 0.5 liters in summer and 0.3 liters in winter for each student per class session;

b) Schools provide sufficient domestic water for students, at least 4 liters for each student per class session; if using a piped water system, each tap should serve a maximum of 200 students per class session;

c) Boarding schools provide sufficient water for eating, drinking, and domestic use, at least 100 liters for each student within 24 hours;

d) Schools use water sources from facilities that meet the conditions for providing drinking water and domestic water. In cases where schools self-provide water sources, the quality must comply with the national technical regulation standards (QCVN 01:2009/BYT) issued together with Circular No. 04/2009/TT-BYT dated June 17, 2009, issued by the Minister of Health on national technical regulations concerning the quality of drinking water; natural mineral water and bottled drinking water according to national technical regulations (QCVN 6-1:2010/BYT) issued together with Circular No. 34/2010/TT-BYT dated June 2, 2010, issued by the Minister of Health on national technical regulations for natural mineral water and bottled drinking water; domestic water according to national technical regulations (QCVN 02:2009/BYT) issued together with Circular No. 05/2009/TT-BYT dated June 17, 2009, issued by the Minister of Health on national technical regulations concerning the quality of domestic water.

2. Sanitary facilities

a) Regarding design:

- For early childhood education institutions: design requirements apply according to the standards specified in Section 5.2.7 and Section 5.5.8 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 3907:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN;

- For primary schools; primary classes in general schools with multiple levels and specialized schools: design requirements apply according to the standards specified in Section 5.6.1, Section 5.6.2, and Section 5.6.3 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8793:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN;

- For junior high schools; senior high schools; junior high classes, senior high classes in general schools with multiple levels and specialized schools: design requirements apply according to the provisions in Section 5.6 of the Vietnamese Standard (TCVN 8794:2011) issued together with Decision No. 2585/QĐ-BKHCN.

b) Regarding hygiene conditions for toilets: apply according to the national technical regulation (QCVN 01:2011/BYT) pursuant to Circular No. 27/2011/TT-BYT dated June 24, 2011, issued by the Minister of Health on national technical regulations concerning toilets - Hygiene assurance conditions;

c) Schools must have clean water and soap or other disinfectants available for hand washing.

3. Collection and treatment of waste

a) Schools must have drainage systems for rainwater and domestic wastewater, preventing water accumulation around classrooms; separate drainage systems must be provided for laboratory areas, practical training facilities, health rooms, kitchens, sanitary facilities, and animal testing areas;

b) Schools contract with facilities that meet the conditions for collecting and treating waste and domestic waste. In cases where schools collect and treat waste themselves, they must comply with the provisions in Clause 4, Section VII, Part II of the national technical regulation (QCVN 07:2010/BYT) on infectious disease prevention in educational institutions under the national education system issued together with Circular No. 46/2010/TT-BYT dated December 29, 2010, issued by the Minister of Health on "National Technical Regulations on Infectious Disease Prevention in Educational Institutions Under the National Education System" (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 46/2010/TT-BYT).

Article 6. Ensuring Conditions for Food Safety

1. Boarding and Day Schools with School Cafeterias

a) Ensuring material conditions for food safety hygiene according to Clause 1, Clause 2, Clause 3, Section VI and hygiene requirements for food storage and processing activities as stipulated in Clause 5 of the National Technical Regulation (QCVN 07:2010/BYT) on preventing infectious diseases in educational institutions under the national education system issued together with Circular No. 46/2010/TT-BYT;

b) School cafeterias, dining halls (eating areas), and school canteens must comply with the provisions set forth in Article 4 of Circular No. 30/2012/TT-BYT dated December 5, 2012, issued by the Minister of Health regarding conditions for food safety hygiene for food service establishments and street food vendors;

c) For personnel working in school dining halls and cafeterias, health requirements must be met as prescribed in Circular No. 15/2012/TT-BYT dated September 12, 2012, issued by the Minister of Health concerning general conditions for ensuring food safety in food production and trading establishments.

2. For schools without boarding or day student facilities, contracts must be signed with food service providers holding certificates of food safety compliance to supply meals to students; school canteens must meet the requirements specified in point b of Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 7. Ensuring the Environment for Policy Implementation and Building Social Relationships in Schools, Community Linkages

1. The Student Health Care Committee must assign specific responsibilities to its members and hold meetings at least once per semester.

2. Implement policies, regulations, and health care systems for students within the school.

3. Foster good relationships between teachers and students, and among students; create a healthy school environment free from discrimination and violence.

4. Establish connections between schools and families and communities to support student health care.

Article 8. Ensuring Conditions for School Health Rooms and School Health Personnel

1. School Health Rooms

a) Schools must have their own health rooms, ensuring adequate space and convenient location for first aid, emergency care, and student health care;

b) Primary, secondary, high schools, multi-grade schools, and specialized schools' health rooms must be equipped with at least one examination bed and patient bed, work desk, chair, tool cabinet, standard equipment, scale, measuring tape, sphygmomanometer, thermometer, vision test chart, splint set, and essential medications for first aid and student health care as prescribed in Decision No. 1221/QĐ-BYT dated April 7, 2008, issued by the Minister of Health on the list of equipment and essential medicines for school health rooms. Early childhood education facilities should have age-appropriate specialized equipment and essential medicines;

c) There must be medical records following Model A1/YTCS as prescribed in Circular No. 27/2014/TT-BYT dated August 14, 2014, issued by the Minister of Health on statistical forms applicable to provincial, district, and commune-level healthcare facilities; student health monitoring records following Form No. 01 and comprehensive student health status records following Form No. 02 as prescribed in Appendix No. 01 attached to this Joint Circular.

2. School Health Personnel

a) School health personnel must have a minimum professional qualification of a mid-level nurse. Based on local practical conditions, schools must arrange for school health personnel to meet these requirements or sign contracts with Commune Health Stations or healthcare facilities from general clinics upwards to provide student health care;

b) School health personnel must regularly update their medical knowledge through seminars, training sessions, and professional skill development programs organized by the Health and Education sectors to fulfill assigned tasks;

c) School health personnel are responsible for advising and implementing tasks as stipulated in Articles 9 and 10 and other tasks assigned by school leadership.

Article 9. Organizing activities for managing, protecting, and caring for students' health

1. Conducting health checks at the beginning of each school year to assess nutritional status and health: measuring height and weight for children under 36 months old; measuring height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and vision for students aged 36 months and older.

2. Measuring height and weight, recording growth charts, monitoring physical development for children under 24 months old once a month and for children aged 24 months to 6 years old once every quarter; monitoring Body Mass Index (BMI) at least twice per academic year to provide advice on appropriate nutrition and physical activity for secondary school students.

3. Regularly monitoring students' health, identifying reduced vision, spinal curvature, dental diseases, mental health disorders, and other illnesses to take appropriate measures, refer them to healthcare facilities as prescribed, and apply suitable study and training regimes based on their health conditions.

4. Cooperating with healthcare facilities that meet the necessary conditions to organize specialized medical examinations and treatments for students.

5. Providing first aid and emergency care according to the current regulations of the Ministry of Health.

6. Advising students, teachers, parents, or guardians of students on issues related to illness, physical and mental development; guiding students on self-care; in cases where there are disabled students in schools, providing advice and support for disabled students to integrate.

7. Directing the organization of school meals ensuring reasonable nutrition, diverse food items, and suitability for different age groups and categories for boarding and semi-boarding schools.

8. Cooperating with local healthcare facilities in organizing vaccination and immunization campaigns for students.

9. Regularly informing parents or guardians of students about the health situation of students at least once per academic year and when necessary. School health personnel will evaluate students' health status at the end of each grade level to serve as a basis for monitoring health in subsequent grades.

10. Recording and documenting in medical examination books, student health monitoring books, and comprehensive health condition monitoring books.

11. Regularly inspecting and supervising learning conditions, classroom hygiene, food safety, drinking water supply, and hand soap provision. Proactively implementing hygiene measures and disease prevention regimes as stipulated in Circular No. 46/2010/TT-BYT and other guidelines from health authorities.

12. Organizing and implementing health programs, hygiene campaigns, enhancing physical activities, promoting reasonable nutrition, building smoke-free environments, prohibiting alcohol and addictive substances.

Article 10. Organizing health communication and education activities

1. Compiling and using health education communication materials with content suitable for specific target groups and local conditions.

2. Organizing health communication and education for students and parents or guardians regarding disease prevention measures, infectious disease control, food poisoning prevention, reasonable nutrition, physical activity, tobacco harm reduction, alcohol and beer harm reduction, school-related disease and disability prevention, oral care, eye disease prevention, accident and injury prevention, and other health education campaigns initiated by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. Integrating health education and disease prevention content into class hours.

4. Organizing for students to practice personal hygiene behaviors, environmental hygiene, disease and infectious disease prevention, food poisoning prevention, reasonable nutrition, physical activity, tobacco harm reduction, alcohol and beer harm reduction, school-related disease and disability prevention, oral care, eye disease prevention, accident and injury prevention through appropriate forms and models.

Article 11. Statistics, Reporting, and Evaluation of School Health Work

1. Regular Reports, Urgent Reports

a) Carry out regular reports on health activities during the school year no later than May 30 according to the report form specified in Appendix No. 02 issued together with this Joint Circular regarding the Health Station in the locality, the Department of Education and Training, and the Provincial Department of Education and Training based on their respective management levels.

b) Carry out urgent reports as required by higher-level management agencies.

2. Evaluation of School Health Work

Schools shall organize self-evaluation of the implementation results of school health work at the end of each school year: Early childhood education facilities shall evaluate according to the model specified in Appendix No. 03 issued together with this Joint Circular; primary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, multi-grade general education schools, specialized schools shall evaluate according to the model specified in Appendix No. 04 issued together with this Joint Circular.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Responsibilities of Schools

1. Organize and implement fully all contents related to school health work as stipulated in this Joint Circular.

2. Direct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of school health tasks.

3. Ensure material infrastructure, equipment, and medicine for school health staff to perform their duties.

4. Propose to competent authorities to ensure human resources for school health work.

5. Improve the Student Health Care Committee, with the Head being a representative of the School Management Board, the Deputy Head being the Health Station Director, the permanent member being the school health staff, other members being physical education teachers, the Total Support Team Leader (for primary and junior high schools), representatives of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Red Cross School, and the Parent-Teacher Association.

6. In cases of planning, constructing new schools, renovating, repairing schools, purchasing equipment, learning materials, children's toys, medicines, medical equipment, they must be implemented or advised to competent authorities to implement according to current standards and regulations.

Article 13. Responsibilities of the Health Station

1. Develop plans for school health activities within the annual operational plan of the Health Station.

2. Assign staff to oversee school health work; provide technical support to implement the provisions of this Joint Circular.

3. Conduct statistics and report on the results of school health activities as prescribed.

Article 14. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training, Provincial Department of Education and Training

1. Coordinate with local health departments to advise People's Committees at all levels on planning and organizing the implementation of school health work in their areas.

2. Urge, monitor, and conduct inspections and checks on schools in implementing the contents of school health work as stipulated in this Joint Circular.

3. Coordinate with the health sector in training and professional instruction for school health staff.

4. Coordinate with local health departments annually to summarize and evaluate school health work in their areas.

5. Conduct statistics and report on the results of school health activities as prescribed.

6. Recruitment of school health staff must be carried out according to the regulations of competent authorities.

7. In cases of planning, constructing new schools, renovating, repairing schools, purchasing equipment, learning materials, children's toys, medicines, medical equipment, they must be implemented or advised to competent authorities to implement according to current standards and regulations.

Article 15. Responsibilities of the District Health Centers, Provincial Preventive Health Centers, and Department of Health

1. Take the lead and coordinate with educational management agencies to advise local People's Committees at all levels on planning and directing the implementation of school health work within their respective jurisdictions.

2. Coordinate with educational management agencies to organize training, seminars, and professional development for school health work; provide professional support to school health staff; guide the implementation of health management, care, and protection for students, and health education communication.

3. Organize inspections, checks, and supervision of school hygiene conditions, environmental hygiene, disease prevention, student health care and management, and other aspects of school health work according to jurisdictional division.

4. Carry out statistics and report on the results of school health activities in accordance with regulations.

Article 16. Responsibilities of subordinate units under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training

1. The Preventive Medicine Department is the central agency of the Ministry of Health; the Department of Student Affairs is the central agency of the Ministry of Education and Training in implementing the contents of this Circular.

2. Based on the functions and tasks of the unit, proactively develop plans, implement, and report on school health work according to assigned functions and tasks.

Article 17. Responsibilities of People's Committees at All Levels

1. Annually approve plans for local school health activities; proactively invest funds, human resources, and infrastructure to ensure the effective implementation of school health work in the locality.

2. Improve the School Health Work Steering Committee at all levels or supplement the school health function to the Health Care Committee at the same level. The Chairman is a leader of the People's Committee, the Vice-Chairman in charge of regular operations is a leader of the Education sector, the specialized Vice-Chairman is a leader of the Health sector, members are leaders of the Finance, Civil Service Administration, Planning and Investment, Social Insurance, Provincial and District Preventive Health Centers, and related departments and organizations. Assign specific tasks to steering committee members according to their functions and tasks.

3. Mobilize resources, upgrade facilities, improve the environment, and learning conditions, as well as health care conditions in schools in the locality in accordance with regulations.

4. Direct sectors to cooperate and participate in implementing school health work contents in the locality.

5. In planning, constructing, renovating, repairing schools, purchasing equipment and teaching materials, medical equipment, based on current standards and specifications to approve and direct implementation.

6. Implement special incentive policies of the locality to attract cadres working in school health work.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 18. Reference Provisions

In case the referenced documents in this document are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be implemented according to the provisions of the new document.

Article 19. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from June 30, 2016.

2. Article 4 of the Regulation on Health Activities in Early Childhood Education Institutions issued together with Decision No. 58/2008/QĐ-BGDĐT dated October 17, 2008 by the Minister of Education and Training; Article 4 of the Regulation on Health Activities in Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, High Schools, and Multi-grade Schools issued together with Decision No. 73/2007/QĐ-BGDĐT dated December 4, 2007 by the Minister of Education and Training; Decision No. 1221/2000/QĐ-BYT dated April 18, 2000 on school hygiene by the Minister of Health; Joint Circular No. 18/2011/TTLT-BGDĐT-BYT dated April 28, 2011 on evaluation contents of health work in primary schools, secondary schools, high schools, and multi-grade schools of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Health; Joint Circular No. 22/2013/TTLT-BGDĐT-BYT dated June 18, 2013 on evaluation contents of health work in early childhood education institutions of the Minister of Education and Training and the Minister of Health; the relevant provisions guiding the operation of school health work for kindergartens and general education schools in Joint Circular No. 03/2000/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT dated March 1, 2000 on guiding the implementation of school health work of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training are abolished from the date this Joint Circular takes effect.

Article 20. Transitional Provisions

For schools currently in use and operation, it is necessary to establish a roadmap to ensure requirements for planning, design, and construction according to current standards and specifications before January 1, 2020.

During the implementation process, if there are emerging issues or difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Education and Training (Department of Student Affairs) and the Ministry of Health (Preventive Medicine Department) for inter-ministerial consideration and resolution./.