The beginning of summer is also the time when Khmer pagodas in the province are bustling with opening literacy classes for students and children in difficult circumstances in the hamlets. The classes are open free of charge, with the dedicated guidance of non-professional “teachers” helping the children preserve the written language and contribute to preserving and promoting the soul of Khmer culture in modern life.
Master Thach Rot Tha teaches students to write Khmer.
WINGS FOR THE FUTURE
We arrived at Xiem Can Pagoda (Vinh Trach Dong Commune, Bac Lieu City) on a heavily rainy afternoon. Yet, the Khmer classrooms in the pagoda were packed with students. From each room resounded the sounds of children enthusiastically spelling out each letter, and the image of monks carefully teaching their students how to write and pronounce their ethnic characters.
Monk Thach Rot Tha was assigned by the abbot of the pagoda to teach the second graders. As one of the young “teachers” of the pagoda, Monk Rot Tha devoted much effort to teaching with the hope that all children in the hamlet would know how to write and read Khmer. For those who were slower than their classmates, the monk spent a lot of time tutoring them, even helping them to write each stroke carefully.
Monk Rot Tha shared: “In about 2 and a half months, the children were taught to read Khmer, write 33 letters and rhyme. Although the time was not long, the number of students was very large and the quality was uneven, so we had to try very hard to convey all the content in the curriculum.”
To have such Khmer classes, the pagoda has invested in facilities and teaching equipment. This summer, the pagoda has put 6 new spacious classrooms into use, with more than 300 students and children from inside and outside the commune registering to study.
Mr. Thach Quet - Head of the pagoda's management board, said: "Near the end of the school year, the pagoda organized an announcement and encouraged parents to register their children to learn Khmer. Thanks to that, the number of students this year doubled compared to last year. Not only those with difficult circumstances but all students are supported by the pagoda with textbooks, notebooks, and pens. We hope that these summer classes will not only help children preserve their writing and mother tongue, but also be a stepping stone for the future."
Students practice spelling Khmer letters. Photo: HT
LOVE ETHNIC CULTURE MORE
The rain of the last days of May could not stop the studious spirit, especially the awareness of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of Khmer children. Many children came to class with dirty clothes, soaked by the rain, some even without sandals. Each child had a different living situation but all shared the same thought that Khmer people must know how to read and write their own ethnic language.
Trieu Thi Truc Anh's family (Bien Dong A Hamlet, Vinh Trach Dong Commune) is in a difficult situation. Because she doesn't have a bicycle, she has to walk to the pagoda to learn to read and write. Whether it's sunny or rainy, Truc Anh never skips school because she doesn't want to lose knowledge.
Truc Anh said: “Due to my family’s circumstances, I had to drop out of school in the 5th grade. Every day, I help my mother take care of the crops to earn money to support my life. I come to the Khmer class at the pagoda to equip myself with knowledge and hope for a brighter future. In particular, learning to read also helps me understand and love the unique cultural values of the nation.”
In addition to learning to read and write, Khmer children are also taught lessons on moraleducation , personality and the teachings of Buddha by monks. Knowing how to write and read Khmer also helps them understand the meaning of the structures and patterns in the pagoda. From there, it helps them see the responsibility of the younger generation in preserving and promoting the traditional Khmer cultural identity in the era of integration.
Long life
Source: https://www.baobaclieu.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/giu-hon-van-hoa-khmer-tu-nhung-lop-hoc-he-100899.html
Comment (0)