Following complaints from new students about being fed leftover rice and soup from previous diners during their national defense education classes, and even foreign objects such as cockroaches in the food, this morning (October 8), Major General Tran Ngoc Thanh, Director of the Department of National Defense and Security Education (Ministry of Education and Training) and local health authorities went to the facility to inspect and review the food supply activities.

While waiting for a new food supplier, the A15 dining hall is required to temporarily close. Meals for new students will be served at the school staff dining hall with a capacity of about 200 people.

z5908015112739_796bb2752625920bc4d0e4be59759863.jpg
This morning, A15 canteen temporarily stopped operating while waiting for a new food supplier (Photo: Thuy Nga)

Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Dang Chinh, Vice President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said he was surprised to see the recorded images of the meal. “The act of gathering leftover rice and soup to continue to distribute to students is unacceptable,” he said.

After receiving the information, as a leader, the Board of Directors realized its direct responsibility for letting this happen. Hanoi University of Science and Technology immediately stopped the contract with the current food supplier for new students studying national defense and security education; assigned relevant units to direct daily inspection and supervision of the quantity and quality of food used according to prescribed standards and ensure food hygiene and safety.

Also on the night of October 7, the school met with students studying national defense and security education to listen to their opinions, thoughts, and aspirations.

According to the explanation of the catering unit, the foreign object in the food, such as a cockroach, was true. “The kitchen explained that it was due to carelessness and not noticing the cockroach crawling into the meat slicer. When the students complained, the kitchen immediately handled it,” said Mr. Chinh.

z5908254410449_38fe37ea26c7ffbdb63385ef3b29c35c.jpg
Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Dang Chinh, Vice President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, shared with the press (Photo: Thuy Nga)

Also today, teachers of national defense and security education will eat breakfast and lunch with the students. Meals are divided into portions, with full quantities. Instead of scooping rice into large bowls, rice is now stored in thermos for students to take as needed, avoiding waste.

Associate Professor Huynh Dang Chinh said that last year, the Board of Directors also received complaints from students about insufficient food. He was the one who personally went down to inspect and sample the food. This lasted for a week and was assessed as “no problem found”.

After that, the school did not receive any further feedback from students through official channels. In addition, the district health center also came to inspect every year but did not discover anything.

“From a certain perspective, the school somewhat trusted this result, so we were surprised when we saw the recorded video,” said Mr. Chinh.

IMG_6741.jpg
The inspection team inspected meals at Hanoi University of Science and Technology today, October 8.

After the incident, Mr. Chinh said that the school has posted QR codes in student areas to directly reflect on problems in the school. Through this method, the school will proactively grasp and avoid incidents that the school does not know about.

“The incident at Hanoi University of Science and Technology is a warning for other educational institutions to do better in the things that can be controlled early. After the incident, Hanoi University of Science and Technology realized that it had the greatest responsibility. This is also an incident for us to look back and be more responsible for all work related to personnel and people in addition to professional work,” said Mr. Chinh.

After the reflection of having to eat leftover rice and soup, what is the current meal of students at Hanoi University of Science and Technology?

After the reflection of having to eat leftover rice and soup, what is the current meal of students at Hanoi University of Science and Technology?

After complaints about having to eat leftover soup, meals for students at Hanoi University of Science and Technology are divided into portions, with full quantities. Hot rice is not served in bowls but placed in a warming box for students to take as needed.
Hanoi University of Science and Technology changes catering unit after complaints that students have to eat leftovers

Hanoi University of Science and Technology changes catering unit after complaints that students have to eat leftovers

The Board of Directors of the University of Technology decided to immediately terminate the contract with the current catering unit and switch to another unit so that the meals of new students studying National Defense Education ensure quantity and food hygiene and safety.