Lam Dong speeds up the construction of inter-level schools in border areas

Implementing the Politburo 's policy and the Government's direction on building primary and secondary boarding schools in border communes, Lam Dong province is speeding up the construction of the first two of five schools in five border communes of the province.

Overcoming difficulties on the border

As a border commune, Quang Truc is nearly 250km from the administrative center of Lam Dong province, with a border of more than 41km adjacent to the Kingdom of Cambodia. The commune is home to 26 ethnic groups with nearly 12,700 people. Although people's lives have gradually improved, the poverty rate remains high.

Currently, the whole commune has 5 public schools including: 2 kindergartens, 2 primary schools and 1 secondary school with more than 2,430 students, of which, primary and secondary school have 1,786 students. It is forecasted that by the 2029-2030 school year, the number of students will increase to about 2,906 students.

However, the commune currently has no boarding school, many students have to travel 7-16km to reach the nearest high school. Therefore, the rate of students continuing to high school is only about 50%, mainly due to economic conditions and difficult transportation.

Quang Truc border commune. Photo by Hoang Hoai

According to the Lam Dong Department of Education and Training, border communes all have a high proportion of school-age children, but access to education is difficult due to rugged terrain, long distances and the lack of living conditions of the people. Worryingly, the situation of students dropping out of school midway still occurs, especially at the secondary level.

The entire 5 border communes currently have 47 educational establishments, including 39 public schools and 5 non-public schools. Although the number of ethnic minority students accounts for a large proportion, this area only has a single boarding secondary and high school for ethnic minorities. The lack of boarding or semi-boarding schools makes it difficult for students in the border areas to maintain their studies.

In addition, the shortage of teachers at the secondary level is still widespread. Recruitment is difficult due to limited staff, unattractive remuneration, and lack of public housing for teachers. Many teachers have to teach far away, living conditions are poor, affecting the quality of teaching and long-term commitment to the locality.

Determined to accelerate towards the goal of 5 border schools

Faced with that reality, the People's Committee of Lam Dong province determined that the early construction of inter-level boarding schools is a fundamental solution, contributing to solving the problem of facilities, retaining students in border areas, while improving people's knowledge and strengthening national defense and security.

Quang Truc and Thuan An communes were chosen as the first locations for implementation. Despite many difficulties in site clearance and investment procedures, with a high sense of responsibility and consensus from the people, the two schools are expected to start construction before October 30, 2025.

Each school is built with 30 classes, accommodating about 1,000 students. In addition to the classroom system, administrative area and functional area, the project also fully invests in dormitories, dining halls, living areas and playgrounds, creating a closed and safe learning, training and living environment for students in the border area.

Director of the Department of Education and Training of Lam Dong province Le Thi Bich Lien inspected the border commune of Tuy Duc.

According to the plan, the schools will be equipped with synchronous facilities and teaching equipment, ensuring conditions for organizing specific educational programs suitable for the region. In addition, the schools will also be places to strengthen national defense and security education, contributing to building a solid "fence" on the Fatherland's border.

During the field survey and working session with the People's Committee of Quang Truc commune, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lam Dong province Nguyen Minh emphasized: "The establishment of inter-level primary and secondary boarding schools is an urgent requirement. It not only helps students in border areas to study in better conditions, but also contributes to improving the people's knowledge, creating local human resources, thereby stabilizing the population, consolidating the national defense and security posture and firmly protecting the national border sovereignty".

After completing the first two projects, Lam Dong province continues to build the remaining three schools in Tuy Duc, Thuan Hanh and Dak Wil communes. Relevant departments, branches and localities are urgently completing documents, reviewing land funds, preparing capital sources and speeding up progress to start construction in the 2025-2027 period.

Not only having educational significance, the system of inter-level schools in border areas is also a "fulcrum" to connect the community, spread knowledge and culture, creating a foundation for sustainable development for this particularly difficult area.

With the synchronous participation of the entire political system, the cooperation of sectors, levels and people, Lam Dong hopes that the formation of a network of inter-level general schools in border areas will open up new learning opportunities for ethnic minority children, helping them confidently step into the future, contributing to building a peaceful, stable and developed border.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/lam-dong-tang-toc-trien-khai-xay-truong-pho-thong-lien-cap-vung-bien-post754021.html