Sowing love for the sea and islands from the school playground

*Secondary school students in Nui Thanh commune were quite excited to participate in the contest. Photo: T.CONG*

Exciting knowledge playground

Last weekend, the contest "I love the sea and islands of my homeland" took place enthusiastically at the Multi-purpose Gymnasium of Nui Thanh Commune, gathering 100 students from 5 secondary schools in the area. This is an activity organized by the Command of Coast Guard Region 2 in coordination with the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee of the City Party Committee, the Department of Education and Training of the city, aiming to spread knowledge and love for the sea and islands of my homeland to local students.

The atmosphere at the exam area was bustling and full of excitement. Students from secondary schools in Nui Thanh commune were present early in their red “uniforms” with yellow stars printed on them, ready for the exams. These were candidates selected by each school through an online competition held earlier.

The contestants went through 4 rounds: "Going to sea", "Crossing the waves", "Arriving at the shore" and "Setting sovereignty markers". The questions covered knowledge about Vietnam's seas and islands; the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Law of the Sea of Vietnam and the Law on the Vietnam Coast Guard.

*The contest is an attractive and familiar intellectual playground for students of Nui Thanh commune. Photo: T.CONG*

In addition, the most basic knowledge such as regulations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; functions and tasks of the Vietnam Coast Guard; history, geography, culture and tradition of fighting against foreign invaders of the nation are included in the question set. The contest also incorporates propaganda on the Law on Drug Prevention, School Violence Prevention and behavioral skills in the school environment, raising awareness and responsibility of students.

“I love the sea and islands of my homeland” is a playground that has become a “brand” of the Coast Guard, organized in many provinces and cities in recent times. The set of questions and the competition sections are designed to suit the age of secondary school students, but still ensure the depth of knowledge.

Bui Quoc Thien, a 9/6 grade student at Tran Cao Van Secondary School, shared: “Before participating in the contest, I read the questions carefully, searched for more documents online to better understand the sea and islands, the Coast Guard force and found this new knowledge very interesting and useful.”

*Many new knowledge contents are integrated into the multiple choice questions for students. Photo: T.CONG*

For Le Hieu Tay, a student of class 8/4 at Tran Hung Dao Secondary School, the contest has a more special meaning. “My father is a fisherman. He doesn’t go to sea as often as before, but I still hear him talk about his trips. Thanks to the contest, I understand more about my father’s job and the sea and sky of the Fatherland where he used to work. I also know more about the new regulations on fishing, especially the fight against IUU fishing, that the Coast Guard officers have set out in the multiple choice questions of the contest,” Hieu Tay said.

For many students of Nui Thanh, the sea is a family story, a memory of the countryside where they live. When knowledge is connected to their homeland, to familiar life, love for the sea and islands becomes more natural and profound.

Multiplying love for the sea and islands

According to Mr. Le Minh Tuan, Principal of Le Loi Secondary School, this year's contest not only encourages the spirit of learning but also helps students approach current issues from a close perspective. "The questions are designed vividly so students can easily absorb them. They not only learn about the sea and islands, about the tradition of the Coast Guard, but are also educated about civic responsibility, environmental protection, and protection of aquatic resources. This is something that the school really appreciates," said Mr. Tuan.

*The organizing committee awarded prizes to contestants with high achievements in the competition. Photo: T.CONG*

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Nam, Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Division 21, said that this year the contest content was adjusted to be closer to students' lives.

“We want students to feel that the sea and islands are not something far away, but are closely connected to their living space, from their homeland. Therefore, the questions are built in a way that is related to behavior, lifestyle and familiar situations. The biggest goal is not to test knowledge but to foster awareness, spread love for the Fatherland and the sea and islands. We also incorporate educational content that is of interest to society such as preventing IUU, preventing school violence, preventing drugs... Thanks to this diversity, the contests attract students thanks to the closeness and practicality factor”, said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Nam.

*Many scholarships were awarded by the contest organizers to students who overcame difficulties and excelled in their studies. Photo: T.CONG*

Not only students, teachers also consider this an interesting educational method. The combination of book knowledge and interactive competition creates a ripple effect, arousing students' interest in learning. Many scholarships and prizes were awarded at the competition. But what remains greater is the inspiration in each student, so that love for the sea and islands becomes awareness, responsibility, and pride that they will join hands to preserve, from today.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/geo-tinh-yeu-bien-dao-tu-san-choi-hoc-duong-3310277.html