Keep the reading aloud on Pho Ba islet.

In the tranquil waters of the Hau River, on Pho Ba islet in My Thanh hamlet, My Hoa Hung commune, the sounds of children studying can still be heard every day. There, the journey of the teachers in imparting knowledge is a story steeped in their love for their profession.

Teachers at the branch campus of Nguyen Huu Canh Primary School continue to diligently impart knowledge to their students. Photo: Phuong Lan

The arduous path of teaching

For teachers at this outlying school, the daily commute is a challenge. Ms. Thai Thi Hoang Yen, a teacher who has worked here for five years, recounts that she makes four ferry trips a day: morning, afternoon, and then back again. Ms. Yen shared: “The biggest obstacle is the river. Most teachers don’t know how to swim, and they’re just afraid to cross by ferry. On days with heavy rain and strong winds, the ferry doesn’t run, so we have to wait until the storm subsides before we can get on the ferry to school.”

Currently, the school has five teachers. The ferry fare for one person ranges from 20,000 to 40,000 VND per day, depending on the trip across the river and the tide. The school only subsidizes a portion; the teachers have to cover the rest themselves. On rainy or windy days, strong waves disrupt teaching or cause teachers to be late.

Ms. Ho Thi Chi is a newly transferred teacher at Point 2 of Nguyen Huu Canh Primary School. Her home is in My Hoa Hung commune. The ferry from there to Pho Ba islet is more precarious than from Nguyen Du lake in Long Xuyen ward because at low tide, the ferry has to make a large loop for about 15 minutes to reach the teaching point on the islet. “What we hope for is not just additional support for transportation costs, but also a bridge from My Hoa Hung to Pho Ba islet. If there were a bridge, I think no teacher would hesitate to come here to teach,” Ms. Chi confided.

Through each small story and very practical sharing of everyday life, we perceived the enthusiasm and intense love for their profession and children of the teachers at this small school. They always strive to ensure that students complete the primary school program, hoping that the children will have a solid foundation to overcome the challenging "river" of knowledge.

The innocent smiles of students after school on Pho Ba islet. Photo: PHUONG LAN

Diligently spreading knowledge

Although the number of students at the second campus of Nguyen Huu Canh Primary School is only 17-20 per class, the teaching intensity is more than double. According to Ms. Chi, the biggest challenge is that the students lack the self-discipline to review their lessons at home. "Here, they only learn what we teach them. At home, they don't review on their own. For example, a lesson that is taught twice at the main campus requires 4-5 lessons here, and the students still don't grasp it," Ms. Chi lamented.

The underlying reason is that parents in Pho Ba islet are mostly factory workers or fishermen, so they don't have time to supervise their children. Love for the students is the greatest motivation for the teachers. Ms. Yen confided: "We teachers all know and understand the circumstances of the students here, so we are very compassionate and dedicated every time we go to class. We not only teach literacy and provide new knowledge, but also teach them about morality. On days when a student falls behind, we can't even enjoy our meal."

With outstanding academic achievements for three consecutive years, Lam Chi Dien, a 4th-grade student at Nguyen Huu Canh Primary School (ranked 2nd), is determined to pursue education for a better future. Every day, Dien walks to school for about 7-8 minutes. Although the distance isn't too long, during the flood season, the road near his house is deeply submerged. Sharing with us, Dien said: "My mother has to carry me across the flooded section before I can walk to school on my own." Despite his family's difficult circumstances, with his parents working as laborers, Dien consistently maintains excellent academic performance.

There are still concerns.

According to Nguyen Trung Nam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of My Hoa Hung Commune, Pho Ba islet is considered an "independent island" of the commune with an area of ​​nearly 1 square kilometer and more than 350 households. The schools on the islet include: a preschool daycare center (with nearly 40 children) and a branch of Nguyen Huu Canh Primary School with 5 classes and 98 students. These facilities are basically operating stably and ensuring quality according to the regulations of the education sector. Operation is carried out well with close coordination from the Party Committee and local government, and the student enrollment rate meets the set target.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the school's facilities are relatively adequate thanks to the support of many philanthropists. However, concerns about landslides and school safety remain the biggest worry for the local government and people. Mr. Nguyen Trung Nam said that the complex landslide situation has seriously affected the school's infrastructure. The fence in front of the school gate and the playgrounds are flooded, cracked, and showing signs of tilting and subsidence. "Given this situation, the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune have repeatedly surveyed the area and requested the school to urgently use the remaining operational funds to carry out essential items such as reinforcing the fence, cleaning the playgrounds, and preventing moss and waste, in order to ensure the safety of the students. At the same time, we continue to petition higher-level departments and agencies to mobilize capital and operational funds to better care for the students," Mr. Nam said.

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-tieng-doc-bai-บน-con-pho-ba-a467081.html