The story of a teacher in green uniform diligently spreading knowledge in the vast borderlands

TPO - Border residents of Muong Lan commune still say that there is light that does not come from the sun or electric bulbs, but from the letters lit up in the middle of the vast border. That light was opened by Major Vi Van Liem - Deputy Head of the Armed Forces, Muong Lan Border Guard Station, Son La Provincial Border Guard Command, to help people confidently change their lives.

Major Vi Van Liem.

Overcoming difficulties to sow knowledge in the mountains and forests

When night falls, the thick fog covers the mountain slopes in the border commune of Muong Lan ( Son La province), the lights in the literacy classes of Huoi Pa, Huoi Men or Nong Phu villages are still lit with the image of Major Vi Van Liem, a young Border Guard officer who diligently teaches the ethnic minorities. To the people, he is not only a soldier who keeps the border peaceful but also a "teacher in green uniform", who quietly sowed the first letters for the people in the border area.

Born and raised in Muong Lan, where life is still difficult, Major Liem understands better than anyone the hardships of the ethnic people. When taking on the task of being in charge of mass mobilization work, he determined that protecting the border must start from the foundation of the people's lives and education. "Only when people are literate, understand the law, and know how to make a living can they feel secure in their villages and lands, and join the army in protecting the border," Major Liem shared.

Since 2019, Mr. Liem has advised Muong Lan Border Guard Station to coordinate with local authorities to open 5 literacy classes in the most remote and difficult villages. Nearly 220 students, many of whom are over 50 years old, have written their names for the first time. Not only is he the organizer, but for many years, he has been the one directly teaching the classes.

Each of Mr. Liem's ​​lectures has familiar agricultural products as teaching aids to help students quickly absorb knowledge.

During the day, he and his teammates patrolled, stayed at checkpoints, and spread propaganda about border security. At night, he crossed the slippery mountain slope in the rain and forest to get to class on time. The classroom, though simple and rustic in the middle of the forest, was always filled with the sounds of spelling and laughter from the students. “If I missed a class, everyone said they were afraid they would forget the words, so I tried to come to class despite the rain and wind,” said Mr. Liem.

Teaching the elderly to write is not easy. There are students with blurred vision, shaky hands, and have to rewrite the same stroke dozens of times. Mr. Liem said that one day, a Hmong woman blushed and confessed: "Teacher, my handwriting is very bad." At that time, he patiently said: "It's okay if the handwriting is bad, as long as we understand." And when they were able to write their name, the joy in their eyes made all his hardships seem to disappear.

Opening the light of knowledge to the people

Along with the work of eliminating illiteracy, Major Liem cleverly integrated propaganda on laws, border regulations, crime prevention, forest protection, fire prevention and fighting, etc. The lessons were therefore not only hours for practicing writing but also a place to expand knowledge, helping people understand their rights and obligations.

Not only teaching letters, Major Liem also "taught a profession" and "taught people". He guided people to apply techniques in farming and raising livestock, gradually abandoning the practice of shifting cultivation and nomadic living. Many households have since then boldly changed their crops and livestock, rising out of poverty. He also persistently propagated the elimination of bad customs and superstitions, reducing the situation of early marriage and incestuous marriage, which have been ingrained in the people's way of life for many years.

Major Liem enthusiastically guides each stroke of the calligraphy to the students.

Stories from the literacy class moved listeners. For example, Giang Thi De, 35 years old, from Nong Phu village, shared: in the past, she was illiterate and was afraid to sign any documents, only daring to leave her fingerprints. “Now that I can write my name and read the words on a piece of paper, I am very confident. When I borrow money or do business, I no longer worry about being cheated. Teacher Liem teaches in an easy-to-understand way and treats everyone like family. Everyone loves Teacher Liem!”, Ms. De confided.

From the small classroom on the mountainside, the light of knowledge has spread throughout the villages. Some students, after learning to read and write, have become active propagandists, encouraging their relatives to come to study; many students know how to think about changing the crop structure and developing the family economy . Those quiet changes are the "sweet fruit" of the nights spent diligently carrying a flashlight into the village by the teacher in green uniform.

“What I am concerned about is that in the border area, the unit in charge still has many illiterate people; but our capacity is limited, we cannot open more literacy classes. I really hope that the local government and relevant agencies will research and open literacy classes to help people enjoy the light of knowledge,” Major Liem shared.

Lieutenant Colonel Mua Lao Thang - Political Commissar of Muong Lan Border Post, said that Major Liem not only teaches people to read and write but also helps people change their way of thinking and doing, igniting pride and arousing the will for people to rise up on their own. Through simple daily activities, Mr. Liem has cultivated the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the hearts of ethnic people in the border areas.

For nearly 6 years of persistently working in literacy classes, the young cadre was awarded many awards such as: The title of Emulation Fighter at the grassroots level for 4 consecutive years (2021-2024), the Border Guard Command awarded a Certificate of Merit in the emulation movement to win the period 2019 - 2024; Son La Provincial People's Committee awarded 3 Certificates of Merit (2021, 2023, 2025) for outstanding achievements in socio-economic development, security and defense; Son La Provincial Youth Union awarded a Certificate of Merit "Advanced Youth following Uncle Ho's teachings" in 2022.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/chuyen-ve-thay-giao-mang-quan-ham-xanh-miet-mai-geo-chu-noi-dai-ngan-bien-gioi-post1797541.tpo