“Light” from the literacy class

For nearly two years, the literacy class with 30 students in Hang Chua Xay village, Mu Cang Chai commune has always had lights on. Whether it is day or night, they arrange their work to arrive on time for class with enough students.

The sudden summer rain made the dirt road slippery as if it had been greased, but in the Hang Chua Xay village cultural house, there were still regular lectures from teachers and stuttering readings from older students.

Unlike regular classes, here, the students are Mong people who are past school age, some are even nearly 50 years old, grandparents, but still pursue learning every day.

A Mong child teaches his mother how to write.

Mr. Ho A Lu, a teacher at Che Cu Nha Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, shared: "At first, it was quite difficult to motivate students to come to class, but thanks to good propaganda work, people have understood the importance of literacy in life, so they always go to school regularly, work hard, and study hard."

Previously, there were husbands who did not agree to let their wives go to school, but now they have taken the initiative to help with the farm work so that their wives can attend class regularly. The class has completed the first phase of the literacy program, equivalent to completing the third grade program of primary education . Since the beginning of June 2025, we have entered the second phase of the program, expected to end in February 2026.

Teacher Ho A Lu added.

It is known that from June to the end of July, the class will be held twice a day, from Monday to Thursday. From August, it will switch to evening classes from Friday to Sunday. Regardless of the time of the class, the students are always enthusiastic and study seriously.

Literacy class in Hang Chua Xay village.

Ms. Ho Thi Cua (45 years old) is one of the oldest but most active students in the class. Her calloused hands are used to farming, holding a plow and a hoe, but Ms. Cua still tries to write each letter carefully, her eyes shining with joy.

She said: “Before, I couldn’t read or write in common characters, so I was afraid to communicate and was always self-conscious when going out. Now that I know how to read, teachers have guided me to read books, newspapers, documents on science and technology applications, use the Internet, and learn many interesting things, which makes me try harder to attend classes regularly. Being literate not only helps me develop my family’s economy but also sets an example for my children and grandchildren. I understand that only by knowing how to read can I escape poverty and move forward.”

Being literate, Mong women can read books, newspapers, and documents on scientific and technological applications.

Ms. Cua also said that before, she only knew how to "fingerprint" all important documents. Now, she can sign her own name and is more confident when going to the market or doing administrative procedures...

Over the years, the Party Committee and the authorities of Mu Cang Chai commune have always considered illiteracy eradication an important task to create a solid intellectual foundation for human resource development. Every year, the commune conducts investigations, reviews, and assessments of the current situation of illiterate and re-illiterate people according to regulations.

From there, develop a plan to organize literacy classes that are suitable to the living habits of ethnic minorities; promote the role of mass organizations, village elders, village chiefs, and clan leaders in propaganda, mobilization, signing management commitments, and mobilizing the rate of students attending classes...

Schools have also assigned competent and enthusiastic teachers to teach classes; coordinated with localities, agencies and organizations to carefully prepare facilities and teaching equipment for literacy classes. Classes do not only stop at teaching reading and writing, but also equip students with basic knowledge of nature, society and law, helping them understand more about the world around them and apply them to life.

Thanks to that, in Mu Cang Chai, the rate of people with level 1 literacy is 93.4%, and the rate of people with level 2 literacy is 81.1%. The commune has achieved level 2 literacy standards in 2024.

In addition to the class in Hang Chua Xay village, the commune also opened two more literacy classes in phase 2 in La Phu Kho and Sang Nhu villages. These classes not only bring knowledge to the people, but also ignite the aspiration to help the highlands of Mu Cang Chai gradually escape the darkness of ignorance, towards a brighter and more meaningful life.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/anh-sang-tu-lop-xoa-mu-chu-post880196.html