The Ministry of Education and Training has called for the further involvement of teachers, education managers and students to foster the national target programme for rural water supply and environmental sanitation.

The appeal was made at a meeting in response to the national week on clean water and environmental sanitation held in central Thua Thien- Hue province’s Hue city on June 2.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Nghia said that the educational sector has built a specific programme carried out at schools to realise the national target, focusing on raising the awareness of both teachers and students towards environmental sanitation.

The ministry also instructed educational organisations to plan activities in response to the national week on clean water supply and environmental sanitation and the World Environment Day.

Apart from the concerted efforts made by the educational sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, other ministries and agencies as well as foreign organisations have also given proactive support for the programme to be effectively implemented at schools nationwide.

On this occasion, students in Hue joined a bicycle parade, conveying the message of the national week on clean water supply and environmental sanitation and promoting World Environment Day.

It is forecast that about 1.8 billion people will live in water-scarce regions by 2030. Vietnam and many other countries are facing a number of challenges, including population growth pressure, industrialisation and climate change, which puts great pressure on water resources.

Currently, fresh water shortages in the Central and Central Highlands regions as well as salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta provinces have caused disastrous impacts on the residents’ livelihoods.-VNA