'Keeping the flame alive' in the school canteen at Mo Ba

In Mo Ba hamlet (Quang Son commune), students' journey to school is ensured by a well-equipped school building and the love and dedication of the teachers. And in that journey, the school canteens at the two primary and kindergarten schools have become a "warm flame," contributing to supporting students' education.

Teachers at Mo Ba Kindergarten School assist students during their lunch break.

The Mo Ba branch of Tan Long Primary School currently has 109 students, 100% of whom are children of ethnic minorities, mainly the Dao and Mong people. The majority of these children come from disadvantaged families, and many have to walk over hills and cross streams to get to school. Therefore, organizing a boarding program is not just about meals, but also a solution to keep students at school and ensure continuous learning.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, Principal of Tan Long Primary School, said: "In 2018, the school received investment for a fully equipped canteen for boarding students. However, it was difficult to maintain at first because the contribution of 12,000 VND per meal was too much for many families, so only about a dozen students participated. Since 2020, the school has actively promoted, campaigned, and appealed for support from benefactors to reduce the contribution to about 10,000 VND per meal. Thanks to this, 100% of students now participate in the boarding meal program."

These efforts have yielded remarkable results. From just a few dozen students initially, now all students stay at the school for meals and rest. Living conditions have also gradually improved.

Teacher Nguyen Thi Oanh further shared: "Previously, the students had to sleep on mats or tarpaulins on the classroom floor. Now, the school has managed to provide enough beds, blankets, and mats, ensuring warmth in winter and coolness in summer. The management of the boarding program is maintained in an orderly manner, with teachers directly guiding and caring for the students, so the quality of afternoon learning has improved significantly."

Students at Mo Ba School during their lunch break.

Not only at the primary school level, but also at the Mo Ba branch of Tan Long Kindergarten, organizing school meals is a journey of great effort. The branch currently has 56 children from poor, near-poor, and particularly disadvantaged households. The majority of these children receive a monthly allowance of 150,000 VND from the government; the remainder receive the same amount of funding from charitable organizations.

Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Huyen, Deputy Principal of Tan Long Kindergarten, said: "Although the kitchen facilities are not yet up to standard, the school still maintains a half-day meal program for the children. We use software to calculate nutritional portions to ensure sufficient amounts of all four food groups, balanced quantities, and frequent changes in dishes. Thanks to this, even with limited funds, we can still ensure adequate nutrition, and even provide milk for the children."

The flexible organization of the school's meals ensures that they are not only filling but also nutritious, contributing to improved physical health and the formation of healthy eating habits for children from a young age, giving parents peace of mind when their children stay at school. Mr. Duong Van Ba, a parent of a student at the school, shared: "Previously, sending our child to school was a worry for our family due to our difficult circumstances, but since the school started providing boarding facilities, our child has received adequate and nutritious meals, which reassures us greatly. We hope this school canteen will continue to operate long-term so that our children can have better learning conditions."

Behind every school lunch program lies the involvement of the education sector, schools, teachers, and charitable organizations and individuals. It's not just about ensuring nutrition, but also about sharing and responsibility for the future of children in mountainous regions. With more nutritious meals and warmer afternoon naps, the joy of going to school for these students becomes more complete.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/giao-duc/202604/giu-lua-bep-an-ban-tru-o-mo-ba-fa61f27/