A Hmong teacher sows "STEM seeds" in the remotest part of the country.

Mastering technology for the sake of our beloved students.

Dong Van Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School is a place that welcomes students from remote villages along the border region. For most of the students attending the school, this is the first time they have left their parents' embrace to integrate into a communal environment. Their only belongings are a few sets of clothes, a pair of plastic sandals, and the longing for home and the bewilderment of being away from family for the first time. Ms. Vang Thi Dinh recounts that many children cry silently at night, burying their faces in their pillows because they miss their mothers. Some even fear calling home because just hearing a loved one's voice makes them unable to hold back their tears.

In those early, challenging days, Ms. Dinh and her colleagues were not only teachers who taught the children literacy, but they also became "second mothers," patiently guiding them in basic life skills such as washing their own clothes, cooking, and tidying their sleeping areas. Step by step, with gentleness and perseverance, Ms. Dinh helped the children overcome their initial fears, adapt to boarding school life, and gradually find joy in learning and group activities.

Ms. Vang Thi Dinh was honored in the

Ms. Vang Thi Dinh was honored in the "Sharing with Teachers" program 2025.

"Amidst countless hardships, what keeps me here and constantly preoccupied is the gaze of my students. Those eyes, always shining with a burning desire to learn and explore the wider world , have driven me to find a way for students in the highlands to access modern knowledge, so that their future will no longer be as arduous as the rocky paths leading to their villages," Ms. Dinh shared.

In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, students' learning had to shift to online. This was a major challenge for schools in remote areas with weak network infrastructure. However, this difficulty acted as a "catalyst" to change Ms. Dinh's perspective. She realized that technology had become a "gateway" to accessing new knowledge. Therefore, if she didn't act now, her students would forever remain outside that important "door." From this realization, Ms. Dinh embarked on a journey of self-learning technology and Science-Technology-Mathematics (STEM) education . She participated in numerous online classes from various organizations, diligently researching programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Initially, the specialized English terminology, a lack of basic knowledge in science and technology, and especially the unreliable internet connection in the border region became "barriers" for Ms. Dinh on her self-learning journey.

However, Ms. Dinh refused to give up. Night after night, when her students were asleep, she would quietly sit by her old computer screen, studying complex algorithms to learn, experiment, make mistakes, and then correct them herself. "I believe that if I can understand and master the technology, I can bring that knowledge back to my students," Ms. Dinh confided.

During that journey, Ms. Dinh was fortunate to meet engineer Do Hoang Son, a member of the National STEM Festival Organizing Committee. Thanks to the encouragement, guidance, and valuable experience shared by engineer Do Hoang Son, Ms. Dinh became even more confident in the path she had chosen. She realized that STEM education could absolutely take root, flourish, and thrive right here in this border region. From then on, Ms. Dinh officially joined the Vietnam STEM Education Promotion Alliance (VESA), carrying with her the determination to bring new and modern knowledge to underprivileged students in this remote border area of the country.

The "iron will" team

With burning enthusiasm, Ms. Dinh boldly embarked on the task of forming the school's first robotics team to compete. This was a huge challenge because her students had never touched a robot or known anything about programming. Ms. Dinh herself, although self-taught, had never had direct experience coaching a technology competition team.

The team was formed. Ms. Dinh and her students learned together, tinkering with assembling and experimenting with commands. For Ms. Dinh, this was a process of learning and playing. On some late afternoons, when the mist had enveloped the mountain valleys, the robots would run in the wrong direction, crashing into walls or rolling aimlessly. Both Ms. Dinh and her students could only laugh it off before diligently searching for the error and reprogramming from scratch. Patience, dedication, and shared passion transformed seemingly dry training sessions into hours filled with laughter.

Ms. Vang Thi Dinh and her team performed a robot demonstration right at the Lung Cu Flagpole.

The biggest challenge for the team lay not only in knowledge but also in equipment, as the school lacked the funds to purchase competition robots. Ms. Dinh had to make connections and was fortunate enough to borrow a robot. When the robot broke down, finding replacement parts became another problem, as repair components were not readily available, and ordering them took many days to receive. In addition, travel expenses and participation fees for major tournaments also presented a financial challenge.

However, with determination, Ms. Dinh and her students overcame difficulties to bring their robot to the technology arena, competing against teams from major cities. It was this effort and perseverance that earned the team the "Iron Will" award in the competition.

Ms. Dinh's concept of success always goes beyond individual trophies or medals. Therefore, after each competition, instead of resting, she immediately returns to school, organizes sharing sessions, and provides technical guidance to teachers in neighboring schools. She also donates robotics kits and technical support so that students in other schools can also access and become familiar with STEM.

A memorable moment occurred when Ms. Dinh and her team performed a robot demonstration right at the Lung Cu Flagpole. Under the fluttering red flag with a yellow star, the small robots, assembled and programmed by the students of Dong Van, moved rhythmically and intelligently. For Ms. Dinh, that image demonstrated the boundless creativity and aspiration for advancement of education in the mountainous region of Tuyen Quang .

Not content with simply spreading the word, Ms. Dinh also created a technology playground right in her local area. She organized a STEM Day at the school, transforming the boarding school grounds into a colorful and creative space, with science booths, intellectual games, and technology demonstrations. The highlight was the first-ever KCbot Robotics Competition, which brought together students from elementary to high school levels, both within and outside the local area.

Together with her colleagues, she continued to expand her influence, organizing training sessions on KCbot robots and Vex VR virtual robots for 20 other junior high schools. Notably, she also opened AI application classes for two schools in Dong Van commune. Under Ms. Dinh's guidance, "STEM seeds" have begun to sprout in many villages, spreading the spirit of learning, creativity, and problem-solving.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/co-giao-nguoi-mong-gieo-hat-giong-stem-noi-dia-dau-to-quoc-238251208174139203.htm