Quietly nurturing the students.

Many teachers who teach in remote and isolated areas also act as intermediaries, connecting students with resources and taking care of their needs.

Preschool children at Rang Chuoi school (Tra Tap commune, Nam Tra My district) have lunch at school, funded by donations from benefactors. Photo: Tra Thu

On Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20th, for teachers, there is not only joy and gratitude, but also quiet care for students facing many difficulties, such as exchanging flowers for books, milk, and health insurance cards for students...

Exchange flowers for health insurance cards.

Ms. Tran Thi Minh Nga, Principal of Hai Ba Trung Primary School (Son Tra District, Da Nang ), said that by early November, through fundraising efforts, the school had secured 13 health insurance cards for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who were not eligible for exemptions or reductions in health insurance premiums because their families did not qualify as poor or near-poor households. “From the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, homeroom teachers have reviewed and compiled a list of students with genuinely difficult family circumstances who cannot afford health insurance so that the school can provide support.”

Every year, Hai Ba Trung Primary School mobilizes resources from various sources to provide health insurance cards for these students. Ms. Minh Nga said that first, the school's teaching staff collectively shares the burden with their students. Only then do they appeal to philanthropists, benefactors, and businesses for support and cooperation. Thanks to these various sources of support, Hai Ba Trung Primary School consistently has 100% of its students covered by health insurance.

However, in the 2023-2024 school year, due to the difficult economic situation, the number of students unable to participate in health insurance reached nearly 50. “The school extended the deadline for paying for health insurance cards for students in grades 2-5 to mid-December. However, many parents still postponed payment with the homeroom teachers despite reminders as the deadline approached,” Ms. Nga shared.

Therefore, Hai Ba Trung Primary School sent out an open letter expressing its wish that instead of giving flowers and gifts to the school on November 20th as in previous years, parents, agencies, and businesses could change the form of support by donating health insurance cards to disadvantaged students. The school's letter was widely distributed to parents of Hai Ba Trung Primary School students through the homeroom teachers. On the first day after distributing the open letter, the school received a great deal of support from parents and businesses, and nearly 15 health insurance cards were distributed.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Hai Ba Trung Primary School will continue to exchange flowers for health insurance cards for students, starting before the opening ceremony and extending until November 20th. "There was a precedent from the previous school year, so we received a lot of support from members of the parent-teacher association in each class and partner organizations and businesses," said Ms. Tran Thi Minh Nga.

A year ago, also on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day, an open letter from Mr. Dinh Phu Cuong - Principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City), calling on philanthropists and parents to donate health insurance cards to underprivileged students instead of flowers and cakes for teachers, attracted widespread attention and was highly appreciated. Initially, the school only requested 89 health insurance cards for 89 poor students. However, the school received 200 insurance cards from the support of parents, organizations, and businesses.

Teachers and students of Hai Ba Trung Primary School (Son Tra, Da Nang) contribute to a fund to support students in difficult circumstances. Photo: NTCC

Prioritize the holistic development of the game.

Most recently, Mr. Le Hong Thai, the principal of Phan Van Tri Primary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City), sent an open letter expressing his wish to receive notebooks, milk, and sports equipment to reward the students instead of congratulatory flowers.

This November, Phan Van Tri Primary School organized many activities for students such as illustrated storytelling, sports competitions, painting, decorating conical hats, decorating piggy banks, etc. The competitions were enthusiastically participated in by students, teachers, and parents alike.

However, according to Mr. Thai, the school's budget only allows for awarding certificates of merit to the students. Meanwhile, every year on Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20th, the school receives many congratulatory flower arrangements. These flowers are only used for a few days before being thrown away, which is very wasteful. Therefore, the school wishes to "exchange" the flowers and gifts on November 20th for milk, notebooks, and sports equipment to reward students. This exchange would both educate students about saving money and motivate them, contributing to building a happy school environment.

“The school hopes to receive support and contributions from philanthropists, businesses, and organizations to provide practical gifts – directly supporting the students in developing their intellect, physical abilities, and artistic skills; encouraging them to confidently participate in beneficial activities. Every contribution, big or small, is a source of motivation for us and our students on their journey of developing knowledge and character,” excerpt from the open letter of teacher Le Hong Thai.

Bearing the worries of parents, many teachers in remote schools also act as intermediaries, providing for their students from jackets and rain boots to lunches with meat, and even stocking up on instant noodles for breakfast so the children have enough energy to study for the rest of the day. In 20 isolated schools in the high mountains of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai provinces, including Tak To, Rang Chuoi, Trang Ta Puong, Cu Dong, Ho Le, Ong Thuong, Ong Thai, and Long Rieu, teachers still organize lunch meals using funds provided by the "Friends Who Care" Club (Da Nang).

Meals containing meat and fish not only improve the children's physical condition but also motivate them to go to school, persevere with their studies, and escape poverty.

In early November, as Nam Tra My (Quang Nam) entered the cold rainy season, Ms. Tra Thi Thu - a teacher at the Rang Chuoi branch of Tra Tap Ethnic Boarding Primary School - connected with philanthropists to obtain additional blankets, pillows, and foam mats for students to sleep on during their afternoon naps.

Taking care of her students, from providing them with sandals to raincoats, Ms. Thu also receives unique gifts in return. These include fruits picked from the fields, sometimes even wild vegetables and flowers the children gathered on their way to school, and some even gave their teacher a pot of orchids. "The way the children give gifts is so special; they slip the gifts into my hands, and the students just smile as a way of saying good wishes. That's all it takes for the teacher to feel the warmth of the students," Ms. Thu shared.

The "Charity Kitchen" and "Mountain Lunch" models in many remote schools are the result of teachers' efforts and love for their underprivileged students. In schools across the country, from the plains to the high mountains, from border regions to distant islands, many teachers are still "passing on the torch" to their students in their own unique ways. It is this love for their profession that has become a powerful driving force, helping them overcome moments of discouragement, difficulties, and challenges in life, and stay committed to their work.

Source: https://danviet.vn/lang-tham-vun-ven-cho-hoc-tro-20241121061430104.htm