Hanoi Strengthens Management of School Boarding Meals, Mandating Strict Food Safety Control
Hanoi's Department of Education and Training mandates a comprehensive review of school boarding meal services following reports of poor quality and delivery delays.
On September 9, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training issued an urgent directive to local People's Committees to strictly oversee the organization of boarding school meals. This action follows widespread parental frustration regarding meal quality, where 40,000 VND rations at some elementary schools consisted only of bean sprouts and minced meat, alongside significant delays in food delivery times.
Under the direction of Director Nguyen Van Hien, educational institutions are required to conduct a comprehensive review of their facilities, personnel, kitchen operations, and food delivery protocols. For schools using external catering services, the administration must evaluate supply capacity, delivery distances, and timeliness. These catering units are mandated to have contingency plans for equipment, power, or personnel-related failures.
The Department of Education and Training mandates that school leaders be directly responsible for the daily supervision of boarding meals. Protocols such as the three-step inspection process, food sampling, and menu verification must be strictly followed. Furthermore, schools are directed to utilize the Hanoi Food Safety and Traceability Management System (HanoiCheck) to ensure transparent information sharing with parents.
The Hanoi Party Committee has directed the City People's Committee to investigate and verify incidents in districts such as Bo De ward, Trung Gia commune, and Thanh Oai commune. Strict handling of violating organizations and individuals is required to restore parental confidence. All units must report their progress on boarding meal management to the Standing Party Committee before September 20.
Hanoi currently provides a daily subsidy of 28,000 VND for boarding meals to over 633,000 elementary students, with 40,000 VND provided for students under social policy categories. City authorities emphasize that all boarding meals must ensure nutritional balance, adequate quantity, and remain appropriate for the developmental needs of students across all grade levels.