Here, written words become the key to unlocking a new life for those who have made mistakes in the past.
The journey of the white chalk...
On June 2nd, a special literacy class officially opened at the Lai Chau Provincial Drug Rehabilitation Center with 31 students. These are not ordinary students, but rather individuals who have fallen into drug addiction, are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, and are preparing for reintegration into society. This class is a collaborative effort between the Lai Chau Provincial Police Department's Drug Crime Investigation Unit, the rehabilitation center, local authorities, and the Association of Retired Teachers.
Ms. Do Thi Oanh, Chairwoman of the Association of Retired Teachers in San Thang Commune, Lai Chau City, who left the classroom more than 15 years ago, was one of the first teachers to accept the offer to teach. “I consider this a good and very humane thing to do. Although I am retired and my knowledge may have faded, I will try my best to convey it in the clearest and most memorable way possible for the students,” Ms. Oanh shared.
In a space devoid of student laughter, projectors, or honor roll boxes, there remained only white chalk, blackboards, and the sparkling eyes of those who had once been lost, yearning to learn. They came from all over the province, carrying with them dark pasts but sharing a simple desire: to learn to read and write in order to rebuild their lives.
One of them is Ms. Vang Thi Ninh (63 years old, Huoi Cay village, Ta Gia commune, Than Uyen district). She had never been to school due to her impoverished family circumstances and a life plagued by addiction. "With the teachers guiding me and teaching me to read and write, I feel like I've been given a new lease on life, a chance to start over," she expressed emotionally.
Similarly, Mr. Bui Van Phong (born in 1985, Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang province ) shared: "Now that I'm back with the blackboard and chalk, and receiving encouragement from teachers and staff, I feel like I've found light after a series of dark days."
The idea for this literacy class originated from Major Bui Van Tuong, Director of the Rehabilitation Center. Major Tuong believes that "learning to read and write is learning to be a good person," a prerequisite for trainees to access the values of society. The class will last from 3 to 6 months, with three sessions per week, aiming to help trainees improve their knowledge, enhance their life skills, and most importantly, regain confidence and the will to overcome their past mistakes.
Those who sow knowledge sow faith.
Besides former teachers, the class also has a special assistant lecturer, Mr. Tan Xoang Son. Originally a teacher in the mountainous region of Sin Ho district, Son was imprisoned for a mistake in helping a friend buy heroin. After his release, he lost his job, became disillusioned, and fell back into addiction. After three years of struggling, Son voluntarily sought rehabilitation. Now, having returned to teaching in a unique way, he sees it as an opportunity to redeem his past.
"Seeing the illiterate students, I realized I needed to change, to strive and be determined to improve myself. Having taught before, I understand how important literacy is in a person's life," Sơn shared.
Learning about the class, many people also witnessed other stories of people's journeys to rebuild their lives. For example, the case of student Vàng Mò Chô, a La Hủ man from Pa Ủ commune, Mường Tè district, a young man plagued by addiction, who had never known how to hold a pen to write. When first taught to write, Chô fumbled, transferring the pen from his right hand to his left without knowing how to hold it properly. After a few lessons, he switched from using his left hand, accustomed to using a machete for clearing fields, to his right hand and was able to write the numbers from 1 to 9.
"I held Cho's hand and guided her through each letter. Witnessing her progress was a huge motivation for the whole class," Ms. Oanh recounted.
For Phung Van Dinh (37 years old, Muong Than commune, Than Uyen district), who has never attended school for over 20 years while lost in the world, the classroom is his last hope of accessing civilized life. “Now I hope to learn to read and write so I can understand more and live a better life. After successfully overcoming my addiction, I want to become a useful citizen,” Dinh said with determination.
Literacy – a bridge to escape poverty and reintegrate into society.
The literacy journey of these forgotten individuals proves one thing: knowledge knows no age, past, or social status. Each letter learned is a step forward in overcoming inferiority complexes and towards a new life.
Opening these classes is not merely an educational activity, but also carries profound social significance. It represents sharing and extends a helping hand from the community, from teachers who have dedicated themselves to the cause of nurturing future generations, to dedicated police officers and soldiers committed to drug rehabilitation work.
From that small classroom, each line of writing has rewritten the destinies that seemed shattered. Hands that were once lost are now learning to write their own names, as a way of redefining their lives.
“We hope this class will be maintained and expanded, so that literacy efforts will not only focus on imparting knowledge, but also inspire confidence and empower students on their journey back to their families and society. Through the seeds of literacy, students will not only learn to read and write, but also gradually improve their awareness, confidently access social services, and proactively break free from the vicious cycle of poverty, backwardness, and relapse,” Major Bui Van Tuong shared.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/lop-hoc-thap-sang-hy-vong-post737528.html
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