Danger in the classroom
Education experts have again warned that many students at schools who have to use unsuitable chairs and tables are at risk.
The Institute for Research and Design of Schools said the results of a study on poorly designed classroom furniture warned that tables and chairs that were too small for many junior secondary students would affect the health of students, leading to bad posture and bone-related health issues.The Institute's survey was conducted at junior secondary schools in three of Hanoi's districts, including Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh and Dong Da. The Institute found that most students have to use poorly designed chairs and tables that may affect their health. Four main types of tables and chairs are used at junior secondary schools in Vietnam. The first set includes a table for two with two single chairs attached. This design has been in schools since 2004. The second type is a double table with two separate single chairs. The third is a table for two with a separate chair for two, while the fourth is a four-seater table and chair set that has been used at schools for a long time but is now being phased out. Schools across the nation mainly use the second and third types. The Ministry of Health's standards say that a 690mm-high table in all four types of combinations is suitable for students whose height is under 150cm, while a 390mm-410mm chair is suitable for students whose height is under 140cm. Some experts say double chairs are advantageous to learning, as students who have to share seats will benefit in group-based activities. But a further survey shows that all types of designs are unsuitable for students aged 13 and 14. A survey on junior secondary students' body measurements revealed only half of them had proper-sized furniture. Viet Nam News, Asia News Network, Hanoi
|
