Sowing seeds of knowledge from the heart.

During those special days of November, we had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Ha Ngoc Dao (former Director of the Department of Education and Training of Dak Lak province). He recounted that at the age of 13, he left his family and hometown of Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai province) to study in the North. At that time, students from the South received special attention and care from the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.

Amidst the general hardship, the bone-chilling cold of the North at that time became a challenge for the children from the South, accustomed to warm sunshine. Because it was so cold, the students didn't dare bathe, instead huddling in straw beds, covering themselves with cotton jackets and blankets, which led to ringworm and scabies. Out of love for their students, the teachers didn't hesitate to boil pots of neem leaf water for them to bathe in.

Teacher Dao reminisced: “Back then, the teachers not only imparted knowledge but also meticulously educated us about revolutionary ideals. It was in that harsh but loving environment that we were not only motivated to study hard, but also trained and tested to participate in the resistance, sharing the burden with our compatriots in the South.”

Teacher Dao, in particular, wrote two letters in blood to the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Education requesting permission to "go to the South" - a vow of youth forged in the sacred and special bond between teacher and student.

Teacher Ha Ngoc Dao (front row, seated in the middle) poses for a commemorative photo with his students in Hanoi .

Throughout his life, dedicated to the cause of education, from the resistance war against the US to the liberation of the country, Mr. Ha Ngoc Dao held many positions and laid the foundation for the province's education sector after liberation. He had thousands of students, guiding many generations within a family, and also taught some students for only a few years or months. Many of his students have achieved success in their careers, but the teacher-student relationship has always been close, affectionate, and full of respect. For more than six decades, reunions have taken place regularly, not only as an opportunity to express gratitude for his contributions, but also to affirm an invaluable legacy: the legacy of human kindness and ideals passed down through generations.

For teacher H'Chắc Hwing (of the Êđê ethnic group, a teacher at Y Jút Primary School, Buôn Đôn commune), for many years, she has nurtured her passion for teaching and the dreams of her students from their first days at school in this difficult border region.

Recalling her elementary school days, she recounted that Y Jút Elementary School had two campuses, one of which was located in Tri village – where she lived. The school building back then was dilapidated, with a thatched roof, walls made of rotting planks, and an uneven earthen floor. Students went barefoot, covered in mud, and students of various ages studied together in the same classroom. Despite the lack of resources, the teachers' dedication and teaching spirit became a guiding light for these poor students.

She vividly remembers her teachers not only diligently imparting knowledge but also going down to every village and up to the fields to help parents harvest their crops and encourage parents to send their children to school in large numbers. This respect and understanding of life planted in H'Chắc the seed of determination to become a teacher.

First-grade students at Y Jút Primary School received care and attention from their teachers on their first day of school.

In 1996, after graduating from teacher training college, Ms. H'Chắc Hwing returned to her village, specifically to Y Jút Primary School, to continue inspiring learning among the children of ethnic minorities. For nearly 30 years, Ms. H'Chắc has been present at all the school locations of Y Jút Primary School, including one nearly 20 kilometers from her home, traversing rugged roads just to bring the light of knowledge to her students. She not only teaches academics but also imparts skills, sharing joys and sorrows to help her students overcome life's challenges. Her teaching methods, based on love and understanding, have yielded sweet results; in the classes she has taught, very few students drop out.

The gifts her students sent were simple, full of the flavors of the village, but she cherished them immensely: a few bags of green tamarind, vegetables, or bunches of wildflowers hastily picked. But the most precious reward for Ms. H'Chắc was the growth and maturity of her students. This is also the sweet fruit of countless generations of teachers who have persistently "carried literacy" and "sown seeds of knowledge" with all their heart and dedication in this border region.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202511/gieo-chu-tu-trai-tim-2ef15d3/