VietNamNet Bridge – No child abuse, no violence at school, no traffic jam, more places for amusement, less heavy school curriculum. These were among the demands children and teenagers made to the HCM City authorities at a meeting held on Saturday.

Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee Le Hoang Quan speaks to the year's first guests on Saturday in his meeting room. (Photo: VNS)

The visitors took turns to sit in the chairman's seat and promised to study hard so that they can make it theirs in future.

After they went around the century-old city hall on Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1 to look at the offices and meeting rooms, the children were asked for their opinions to improve the city this year.

The chairwoman of the City People's Council, Pham Phuong Thao, and the chairman of the City People's Committee, Le Hoang Quan, were among those who listened respectfully to the young ones.

Ngo Thi Minh, vice chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Pioneers and Children, and officials from various departments were also present.

Many of the visitors complained that they have to work very hard because of the heavy curriculum, and have no time to rest or play. Besides, their learning was more about theory than practice, they said.

Tran Thi Truc Quynh from Nguyen An Khuong Secondary High School in Hoc Mon District said she had to stay up very late every day to learn theory and had no time to play or be creative.

Nine grader Phan Thi Phuong Anh from Tam Thon Hiep Secondary High School in Can Gio District said frankly that her rural district did not have good teachers because all the good ones were posted in urban districts. "But the city government says all the time it will give priority to outlying districts."

Teachers in her area have to juggle several subjects at a time, she said, adding the authorities should appoint more good teachers in the district.

Many spoke about violence in school and child abuse which were becoming increasingly prevalent in the city.

Huynh Dinh Can, an eighth grader from Dong Den Secondary High School in Binh Chanh District, said he was worried by the violence and urged the authorities to curb it.

The children also expressed their opinions about environmental protection and social welfare.

One suggested setting up a park for children since other parks were frequented by necking couples and drug users, and another called for designating a day when no vehicles except bicycles should be used in the city.

A child pointed to the electricity that was being wasted in the hall by air-conditioners running at very low temperatures and lights burning unnecessarily. City authorities have been urging residents to save energy to protect the environment.

The city has named 2011 as the Year of Children.

Quan said the city would offer children the best conditions for developing their talents and protect them from negative impacts.

"The city of nine million people has more than two million students. They will be very important human resources contributing to the city's development. That's why the People's Council has chosen this as the Year of Children."

Thao too promised the city would do more to create favourable conditions for children to develop and contribute.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News