Opening ceremony no flowers, no speech, only teacher-student love

Lễ khai giảng không hoa, không bài phát biểu, chỉ có tình thầy trò - Ảnh 1. — The first opening ceremony of the school year for teacher Hoang Thi Lan - Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province - Photo: Vu Tuan

The teacher's first opening ceremony.

Teacher Hoang Thi Lan has only been working at Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School for less than a year. This opening ceremony is the first in her career.

The opening ceremony was simple, with 48 first and second graders at Ta Lung school attending together in one classroom.

Early in the morning, parents brought their children to school and took the opportunity to help the teacher clean and decorate the classroom with a celebratory banner. The teacher drew flowers and wrote a welcome message for the new school year on the blackboard with colored chalk. The students wore their best clothes for the first day of school. Many stood at the door with their hands clasped respectfully to greet their new teacher.

Ms. Hoang Thi Lan shared that she never imagined she would have such a simple opening ceremony as today.

Lễ khai giảng không hoa, không bài phát biểu, chỉ có tình thầy trò - Ảnh 2. — The simple celebratory part of the teachers and students of Ta Lung branch school, Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School (Dong Van, Ha Giang) - Photo: VU TUAN

"I feel a little disappointed and sad, but I also feel more love for the children and more passionate about my profession. I just hope the children have better conditions so that they feel happy when they come to school, attend regularly, and listen to their teachers," shared Ms. Hoang Thi Lan.

Ms. Lan was assigned to teach at Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School from the second semester of the previous school year. This year, she has been assigned to Ta Lung branch school, teaching 2nd grade. This branch school is more than 70 kilometers from her home.

Though far from home, ever since she started school, she has felt fortunate to be doing the job she chose, helping children in mountainous areas learn to read and write.

The fact that students attend school is a reward for the teacher.

Lễ khai giảng không tiếng trống trường của cô trò vùng cao - Ảnh 3. — Students in Shangtung woke up early and walked to school for the opening ceremony; some walked nearly ten kilometers. - Photo: Vu Tuan

Teacher Hoang Thi Hong Hanh, who teaches first grade at Ta Lung school, shared that out of her 26 students, 21 are from impoverished families. Some are brought to school by their parents, but many others walk to class on their own. Their homes are in the village, but some hamlets are far away, requiring nearly an hour's walk over mountains to reach the school.

Ms. Hanh has worked at Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School for 15 years, teaching at a remote location almost every year. Accustomed to hardship, the greatest reward for her on this opening day was having all 26 students in her class. Ms. Hanh felt heartwarming knowing that none of the 26 children were wearing ragged clothes, and that they greeted her with folded hands before happily playing with their new friends.

Lễ khai giảng không tiếng trống trường của cô trò vùng cao - Ảnh 4. — Teacher Hoang Thi Hong Hanh reads the President 's letter during the opening ceremony - Photo: Vu Tuan

"The material conditions in the highlands are just like this; the greatest reward for us is that all the children are able to attend school!" - Ms. Hanh said with a gentle smile.

Ms. Hung Thi Hien, the principal of Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School, said that the school still has 5 branch campuses with 159 students in grades 1 and 2. The furthest branch campus is nearly ten kilometers from the commune center. The general policy of the district is to consolidate the students at the main school campus, but currently the school's facilities are not yet adequate.

Lễ khai giảng không hoa, không bài phát biểu, chỉ có tình thầy trò - Ảnh 5. — The joy of first-grade students at Ta Lung school on the first day of the new school year - Photo: Vu Tuan

"This school year, we have 428 primary school students and 363 secondary school students. If we all gather at the main school campus, the schoolyard won't be big enough. Moreover, if we hold a centralized opening ceremony, the first and second graders won't have parents to drop them off and pick them up. They also don't yet have access to the boarding school program, so if everyone goes to the main school, the school won't be able to prepare meals for them," Ms. Hien explained.

Lễ khai giảng không tiếng trống trường của cô trò vùng cao - Ảnh 6. — On the first day of the new school year, children in Shangtung wore new clothes and had a more substantial breakfast than usual - Photo: Vu Tuan

According to Ms. Hien, compared to previous years, road conditions in the commune have become much less difficult, but the people are still poor. The local government and the school must gradually overcome the difficulties to bring students to study in the commune center. However, there are not enough boarding facilities and classrooms. Dong Van District has approved the plan to prepare for the construction of the second campus of Sang Tung Primary and Secondary School.

"My students and I are hoping that the second campus will be completed soon. Once it's finished, the students can study together, and with a boarding program, things will be much easier," said Ms. Hien.