Building sustainable eco-schools

Nurturing a young generation that takes responsibility for the environment

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh emphasized that education plays a pivotal role in the journey toward sustainable development. Schools are not only places for imparting knowledge but also “nurseries” for shaping the character, awareness, and sense of responsibility of the young generation toward society and the environment.

Students hold a particularly important position in this process. They not only engage in daily actions such as saving electricity and water, reducing plastic use, sorting waste, and planting trees, but also serve as effective ambassadors, spreading messages of environmental protection to their families, friends, and communities. The image of students taking action for the environment will inspire adults to change their mindsets and habits, thereby contributing to a broader societal transformation toward a greener, cleaner, and more beautiful future.

Under the theme “Plastic-Free Schools,” the ASEAN Eco-School Awards 2025 sends out a strong call to action in the face of plastic pollution - now a global challenge that directly threatens ecosystems, public health, and the future of generations to come.

“The ASEAN Eco-School Awards Vietnam is not only a competition but also a broad and meaningful social movement that contributes to building a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Vietnam,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Representing a pioneering voice from the education sector, Mr. Phan Anh – Principal of Genesis Secondary School, which won First Prize in the ASEAN Eco-School Vietnam 2024 Secondary School category, shared:

“We have always aspired to turn classrooms into the birthplace of green ideas. The award is not only a source of pride but also a motivation for both teachers and students of Genesis to continue our journey of nurturing a generation of students who cherish nature and take action for the environment.”

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach – Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper expressed his hope that the Awards will become a powerful source of inspiration, awakening environmental awareness and action among students – the “green ambassadors” of the future.

He emphasized that even seemingly small actions, such as waste sorting, collecting plastic, or planting a single tree today, can grow into lasting values for generations to come.

As part of the launch ceremony, delegates and guests visited the eco-school model at Genesis Secondary School in Hanoi, where they learned from practical experiences in building a green school, from integrating environmental knowledge into the curriculum to organizing extracurricular activities for environmental protection. These hands-on experiences have inspired both teachers and students while serving as vivid evidence of the effectiveness of environmental education starting from schools.

In addition to the Launch Ceremony, the Organizing Committee will host a series of related events for the Awards: the Forum “Building ASEAN Eco-Schools – Plastic-Free Schools: Action for the green generation” in Hue City and Can Tho City in September–October 2025, and the Awards Ceremony in December 2025 in Hanoi.

Three evaluation criteria

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment announced that the selection of the ASEAN Eco-School Awards Vietnam 2025, under the theme “Plastic-Free Schools,” aims to honor schools with outstanding contributions to environmental protection while encouraging the spread of green education initiatives throughout the national education system.

Eligible participants include all primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary schools nationwide. For multi-level schools, applications must clearly specify the category of entry according to each educational level.

The Selection Council will evaluate applications based on three main groups of criteria: Action plan – including long-term, medium-term, and annual strategies, specific programs for plastic reduction, collection, sorting, and recycling promotion, budget allocation for activities and summary reports; Curriculum and learning activities – integrating knowledge on plastic waste into at least one subject, organizing capacity-building programs for teachers, establishing clubs or hosting discussions and thematic talks; Facilities and initiatives – infrastructure using sustainable or biodegradable materials, initiatives proposed by teachers and students, and community engagement activities to reduce plastic waste.

Additional points may be awarded to schools with outstanding initiatives, applications of environmental protection technologies, or effective activities in remote, border, and island areas.

The evaluation period will run until September 30, 2025. Applications will be accepted by the Organizing Committee until October 31, 2025, based on the postmark date or the time of submission via the online portal. During the selection process, the Council may conduct random on-site inspections at certain schools or consult with the respective management authorities.

Regarding the structure and value of the awards, prizes will be granted across the three educational levels - primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary - with the same structure for each level: 1 First Prize worth 30 million VND (approx. USD 1,200); 3 Second Prizes, each worth 20 million VND (approx. USD 800); 5 Third Prizes, each worth 10 million VND (approx. USD 400); 8 Consolation Prizes, each worth 5 million VND (approx. USD 200); 3 Creativity Prizes, each worth 5 million VND (approx. USD 200).