Border Flowers

Amidst the rugged mountains of the border villages of Tuyen Quang, where life remains fraught with hardship, there are still teachers quietly dedicated to spreading knowledge. Putting aside their personal lives, they overcome geographical barriers and shortages to persistently illuminate the path of learning for the children of ethnic minorities.

Ms. Truong Hong Hanh, Deputy Principal of Pho Bang Ethnic Boarding Junior High School (standing first on the right), is chatting with parents and students.

Second mothers

Born and raised in Thai Hoa commune, teacher Truong Hong Hanh (born in 1983), Deputy Principal of Pho Bang Ethnic Boarding Junior High School in Pho Bang commune, has dedicated 19 years of her youth to teaching in this remote border region. Graduating in 2005 with a major in Biology from Tuyen Quang Teacher Training College (now Tan Trao University), instead of choosing the peace and quiet of city life, she embarked on a challenging journey along the border of the former Ha Giang province. Before working in Pho Bang, Ms. Hanh taught in Sung Trai, Pho La, and Sang Tung.

The memories of her early days at Sung Trai Secondary School remain vivid. Ms. Hanh shared: "On my first day working in Sung Trai (formerly part of Dong Van district), I faced a severe shortage of clean water and eroded gravel roads, leaving only jagged rocks. Undeterred by the hardships, outside of morning classes, I quietly walked and climbed high mountain slopes to reach the villages and encourage students to attend school. Undeterred, I persevered, going to each village and each house to encourage students to come to class. I even waited for parents returning from working in the fields to talk to them and persuade them. Initially, I only received negative responses, but through my persistence and dedication, I gradually gained the trust of the people and encouraged them to send their children to school."

On weekends, she diligently teaches supplementary classes to over 30 commune officials of all ages who haven't completed their junior high school education. Beyond teaching, Ms. Hanh's motherly heart is also devoted to the boarding school, where the students from the highlands see her as their only support far from their families. At each meal, she meticulously checks every tray of food, ensuring the children eat nutritious and delicious meals so they have the energy to study. This thoughtfulness and meticulousness have transformed the boarding school into a true home, where her love warms the lives of those facing hardship.

Amidst the jagged, cat-ear-shaped mountains of the Thang Mo border region, the story of teacher Luc Thi Phu, Principal of Thang Mo Kindergarten, stands as a symbol of perseverance and love for her profession. After graduating from Ha Giang Teacher Training College, she left her hometown to embark on a 20-year journey of dedication to her school in the border region of Tuyen Quang province. In 2006, she began working at Sung Chang Kindergarten in Thang Mo commune, a period she will never forget. Not only does she care for preschool children, but in 2025, she volunteered to teach literacy classes in Xa Van village, Thang Mo commune, bringing the light of education to the local people. To this day, her footsteps have left their mark throughout the villages, encouraging students to attend school.

The light of knowledge amidst the vast forest

In Son Vi commune, a place shrouded in gray rocks and fog, the story of nearly 20 years of "sowing the seeds of knowledge" by teacher Mai Duc Tiep and his wife Vi Thi Dinh at Then Pa school, part of Thuong Phung Ethnic Boarding Primary School in Son Vi commune, unfolds like a heartwarming song of human kindness and dedication. Besides building their own home, the couple devotes their hearts and souls to nurturing the "fields of knowledge" in this remote border region of Son Vi.

Overcoming language barriers and the harshness of nature, the teacher couple tirelessly imparted knowledge, helping children access literacy to change their future. Beyond their teaching hours, in the evenings, the couple would open literacy classes for the villagers, teaching even the grandparents and parents of their students. Their 17-year journey was not just about teaching, but about silent sacrifice, undeterred by hardship and difficulty, using love to fill the gaps in the remote highlands, and firmly protecting the "milestone of the people's hearts" on the border.

The hard work, youth, and determination of teacher couple Mai Duc Tiep and Vi Thi Dinh were recognized when the Ministry of Education and Training honored them as outstanding teachers of 2022. The couple also had the honor, along with nearly 40 other teachers nationwide, of meeting Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Minister of Education and Training in Hanoi.

Amidst the hardships and challenges of the border regions, 2025 marks a milestone filled with happiness for the teachers who tirelessly dedicate themselves to their schools and communities. Resolution 71-NQ/TW clearly states that the preferential allowance for teachers in preschool and general education institutions should be increased to at least 70% for teachers, at least 30% for staff, and 100% for teachers in particularly difficult areas, border regions, islands, and ethnic minority areas. This policy is not only a form of material support but also a profound expression of gratitude from the Party and the State for their silent sacrifices.

The silent sacrifices of teachers in border regions are the enduring building blocks of faith and aspiration, helping literacy to sprout and flourish even on the driest and harshest rocky plateaus of our country.

Minh Hoa

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/giao-duc/202604/hoa-bien-cuong-fe62813/