Bright spot of temporary school in mountainous area

Students of Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities are guaranteed nutrition while studying at the boarding school. Photo: HO QUAN

View from Tra Leng

Before 2016, Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School (Tra Leng Commune) had 1 main school and 9 village schools. Most of the village schools were built with temporary wood, teaching combined classes of 1-2, with a small number of students, even some schools had only 7 students.

To get to class, teachers have to walk, climb slopes and carry food and necessities to ensure meals for boarding students. Teachers in remote areas face many difficulties and risks, especially female teachers. Not to mention, teaching two grades with many different subjects at the same time makes the quality of learning not high.

To gradually eliminate the 1-2 combined classes at each roof, in 2016, Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School determined to implement at Suoi Va school (village 3, old Tra Leng commune).

Mr. Bui Quang Ngoc, the school's principal, said that the Board of Directors and teachers went to the roof to meet with parents to persuade them. The concerns and worries about the children's accommodation when they return to the main school far away were resolved by the school with specific commitments. The children are guaranteed the best conditions for studying and living, with teachers regularly supervising them. For families with difficulty traveling, the school will support them in taking their students home on Friday afternoons and picking them up on Sunday afternoons.

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At first, the parents did not trust us. We suggested that the children be sent to the main school for a trial week so that the parents could monitor and evaluate the quality of the boarding school and teaching. A week later, the parents themselves proactively contacted the school to send their children to the main school instead of studying near their home. They saw that their children studied well, were well taken care of, and had guaranteed living and playing conditions.
Mr. Bui Quang Ngoc, Principal of Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities

[ VIDEO ] - Students are guaranteed nutrition while boarding at Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities:

Persistently staying in the village and mobilizing, in the period of 2017 - 2020, the school continued to eliminate the schools of Tak Lang, Thon 1, Ong Luc, Ong Nhay, Ong Dung, Tak Le and Ong Thuong. To ensure the quality of meals, the school called on philanthropists and businesses to accompany and support regularly. The school publicly disclosed the financial situation of students' daily meals; organized daily meal marking in class and was confirmed by the homeroom teacher. Students' policies were clearly announced to parents and paid in full.

Mr. Ngoc said that only Ong Dung school (village 3, Tra Leng commune) was kept because it was 5km away from the main school, difficult to travel, and had a student population of up to 40. Moreover, this school taught grades 1 and 2 separately, ensuring solid, safe facilities and full teaching equipment according to the 2018 General Education Program. The school assigned teachers from the main school to teach English, Physical Education, etc. The living conditions were equivalent to the main school.

Promote efficiency

In Tra Linh commune, Tra Nam Primary - Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities has eliminated 4 village schools from the 2020 - 2021 school year to concentrate students at the main school and organize boarding from Monday to Friday. This approach is supported by parents, who want their children to have access to better learning conditions. Therefore, even though their houses are a few kilometers from the school and take a few hours to walk, parents still arrange their farm work and take turns picking up and dropping off their children. Many parents also volunteer to stay at school, helping teachers take care of students, prepare meals, clean rooms, etc.

Students are trained in discipline in a collective environment, increasing cohesion. Photo: PHAN VINH

Mr. Vo Dang Chin, the school's principal, said that organizing boarding at the school helps students receive care, improve nutrition, and develop comprehensively. Instead of going to school in the morning, returning home in the afternoon, and only having lunch at school, students now stay from Monday to Friday. The school balances the meal budget, mobilizing social resources to ensure 3 meals/day. The most obvious effect is that the rate of students attending class is always 100%. The school's resources are not dispersed to remote locations but are focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning.

“Study at a separate boarding school makes it difficult for the school to manage the students’ study time, activities, nutrition, and health. When studying at a boarding school, students gradually form a routine, a collective environment, and increase their cohesion,” said Mr. Chin.

Teachers of Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School go to each roof to pick up and drop off students to class. Photo: HO QUAN

Mr. Bui Quang Ngoc, Principal of Tra Leng 2 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, said that from the 2018-2019 school year, the school officially eliminated the 1-2 combined class. Fortunately, parents trust in sending their children to the school, thereby improving the quality of education in this mountainous commune. The proof is the end-of-year training results, the school has more than 97% of students completing the class program and 100% of students completing the primary program.

“Organizing boarding schools helps schools easily implement emulation movements, new learning models, extracurricular activities, etc. When sick, students have timely access to school health care . The relationship between teachers and parents is increasingly close, reducing the situation where teachers have to go to each village and hamlet to persuade students to come to class,” said Mr. Ngoc.

Students in mountainous areas are guaranteed the best learning conditions. Photo: PHAN VINH

In the highland communes in the southwest of the city, due to the rugged mountainous terrain, separated by rivers and streams, and difficult transportation, many schools are forced to maintain village schools to ensure the safety of students, especially during the rainy season. In addition to teaching, teachers in the highlands also connect with businesses and philanthropists to improve material conditions, teaching equipment, learning tools, clean water, school nutrition, etc.

Typically, the Love Connection Club, chaired by Mr. Nguyen Tran Vy, Principal of Ngoc Linh Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Tra Linh Commune), has called for the construction of nearly 50 schools, more than 100 classrooms, public houses, toilets, kitchens and 5 dormitories for more than 1,000 students.

Mr. Truong Cong Mot, Principal of Chu Van An Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Tra Tap Commune) said that the school has 9 satellite schools, of which 8/9 have been solidified thanks to the school's investment and socialized resources. There is no longer the scene of students shivering because of the rain and wind when studying in a makeshift school built with wooden planks. They also have access to a good learning environment, fully equipped with modern facilities. Notably, during the recent storm season, this school became a safe shelter for students and people in the surrounding areas.

“Only Rang Di peak still has a temporary school, but the locality has decided to relocate and arrange residents to Tu Lung peak. At the same time, they are investing in building a solid school, ensuring facilities to improve the quality of teaching and learning,” said Mr. Mot.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/diem-sang-xoa-diem-truong-tam-o-vung-cao-3313793.html