Preserving the national cultural heritage right from the school year.

Regularly on Friday and Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, the lively sounds of the zither fill the air, blending with the clear voices of elementary school students.

Hứa Hoài Phương, a student in class 3A, excitedly shared: “I’m very happy to be learning to play the zither right here at school. At first, pressing the strings hurt my fingers a little, but once I could play a song, I felt very happy. I want to learn really well so I can perform for my parents and teachers.”

Sharing the same enthusiasm, Dang Gia Linh, a student in class 4A, said: “Besides studying academics, these traditional folk singing lessons help me understand more about the origins of the Tay ethnic group. I love the indigo costumes and songs of my people even more.”

A unique feature of Kim Dong Primary School is that 95% of its students are children of ethnic minorities (mainly Tay and Nung people) who migrated from the northern provinces. Therefore, when the school decided to incorporate traditional art into its curriculum, this model received enthusiastic support from parents.

To maintain the class, parents provide their children with zithers and cover the costs of hiring artisans to teach at the school three times a week (three lessons per session). The close relationship between the school and families has created favorable conditions for the children to both learn about culture and preserve their cultural identity.

The teacher directly instructing the children is Meritorious Artisan Chu Thi Hieu (village 7B, Ea Phe commune) - a person who has dedicated many years to folk culture - shared: "I am very moved to see that the children, although still young, are very passionate and learn quickly. Introducing Then singing and Tinh playing into schools is the most sustainable way to prevent our ethnic culture from fading away."

A lesson on Then singing and Tinh playing at Kim Dong Primary School (Ea Phe commune).

Organizing the Then singing and Dan Tinh playing classes is not just a simple extracurricular activity, but a crucial link in the school's comprehensive education strategy. This is a concrete activity aimed at effectively implementing the study and emulation of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style regarding the preservation and promotion of the ethnic cultural identity of Dak Lak province in the new era. Alongside its training mission, the school also proactively implements ethnic policies, contributing to the effective implementation of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, creating a suitable environment for promoting and educating the younger generation about traditional ethnic culture.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vich, Principal of Kim Dong Primary School, said: “The Then singing and Dan Tinh playing class is one of the activities that concretizes the school's policy of teaching two sessions per day. We prioritize inviting reputable local artisans to teach directly to ensure the authenticity of this art form. To ensure quality, the school has agreed with and requested the artisans to develop a systematic teaching plan and program suitable for primary school students.”

It is evident that the special classroom model at Kim Dong Primary School is making a significant contribution to building a happy school environment, while simultaneously nurturing the souls and awareness of cultural heritage preservation in the younger generation from their time in school.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/giao-duc/202601/giu-hon-van-hoa-dan-toc-ngay-tu-truong-hoc-74a1517/