The Ministry of Education (MoE) through the Department of Schools on Saturday continued its Anti-Tobacco Awareness Education Programme and Procedures for Addressing Smoking or Vaping Offences at School Level at Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre.
The Anti-Tobacco and Vaping Awareness Education Programme is one of the initiatives by the Department of Schools, MoE aimed at raising awareness and addressing social issues associated with student disciplinary offences related to the use of tobacco or vaping within the school environment.
The programme is also implemented as part of the MoE’s support for the Cross Functional Teams for Health (CFT) 2022–2025 initiative by Ministry of Health (MoH), particularly in supporting one of its key actions: ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’.
The programme featured briefing sessions by the Health Enforcement Division, Department of Policy and Planning, MoH; the Royal Customs and Excise Department, Ministry of Finance and Economy; and the Student Welfare and Development Unit from the Student Affairs Division, Department of Schools, MoE.
The programme’s main objectives include raising students’ awareness of the health risks associated with the use of tobacco and vaping by providing an understanding of the negative effects on health and academic performance, through a guidance-based approach and the implementation of various educational and awareness programmes and activities within the school.
The programme also served to increase awareness, particularly among students, parents, the PTA, as well as penghulu of Mukims and village heads regarding the guidelines and school’s actions in addressing tobacco and vaping-related offences.
Officers from the Health Promotion Centre at the MoH, Islamic Studies Department at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, school leaders, senior teachers for Student Affairs, as well as Chairpersons of the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) from schools under Cluster 2 were present. The same programme was held for schools under Cluster 1 on April 15 at Raja Isteri Girls High School (STPRI) while for schools under Cluster 3, it was held on April 17 at Tutong Sixth Form Cenre. – James Kon
