We arrived at Se Ray Ta Mon Pagoda (also known as Ta Mon Pagoda) in Dao Vien Hamlet, Vien Binh Commune, Tran De District, Soc Trang Province on a summer morning filled with sunshine and southern wind. As soon as we stepped into the pagoda gate, we could hear the murmur of children reading their lessons.
Like many summers past, this morning, monk Kim Chi Thanh went to class to teach Khmer language to first and third graders. There is no standard number of students like in regular elementary school classes, so whenever there are students registered, whether there are 5 or 50 students, the teacher always goes to class on time.
The class was held in the main hall of the temple, with more than 100 students divided into 3 classes, studying 2 sessions; morning was class 1 and class 3, and afternoon was class 2. To have such large classes, the temple did not hesitate to go to each family to persuade parents and children to come to class.
Like the children who have been welcomed by the temple since they were young, Mr. Kim Chi Thanh cherishes the classes at the temple. Not only do they teach the language and writing, they also teach the children the culture, rituals, and traditional customs of the Khmer people.
Danh Thi Trinh, 12 years old (Vien Binh commune, Tran De district) happily told about going to the pagoda to study and play with her friends every day. Danh said that at school she also learned Khmer, but there was only one period per week so she was not fluent. Studying at the pagoda, she was taught very carefully, from letters to pronunciation, spelling... In the same class as Trinh is Ly Manh Han, the same age, but Han's house is in Lieu Tu, a neighboring commune, a little further away. Every day Han rides her bike to the pagoda, between class hours Han also gets to play folk games, sometimes playing by herself, sometimes with the teacher showing her. Han and Trinh's class also has Kim Thi Kha Vy, whose parents also asked for her to go to school since last summer. Vy said: "My parents took me to the pagoda to ask the monks to let me go to school. At first, I found it very difficult, but this year I have been able to communicate in Khmer better. In addition, I have learned many other interesting things"...
Khmer language class in Seray Ta Mon pagoda
Leaving Ta Mon Pagoda, we went to Tepearam Preychop Pagoda (Prey Chop) in Lai Hoa Commune, Vinh Chau Town. The morning classes had ended, but the children were still playing happily like young birds in the pagoda grounds.
Ly Van Nit, living in Zone 5 (Lai Hoa commune, Vinh Chau town) is huddled together with his friends to write the last few lines on the board. Nit whispers, "I have been studying at the pagoda for 3 summers, I have morning classes, and some older friends have afternoon classes." Standing nearby, seeing the group of visitors entering the pagoda and raising their cameras to take pictures, Thach Thanh Sang shyly hides in the corner of the main pillar of the temple. After a while of getting acquainted, Sang gradually opens up: "This summer I have been to the pagoda for 1 week, but in previous summers, my parents brought me here to study, 2 months each year. My brothers and sisters also study at the pagoda but are not as diligent as me because they also help their parents with work."
Monk Le So Phep of Prey Chop Pagoda said: “This summer, 100 students came to class. The elementary school children on summer vacation all came to the pagoda to study Khmer for 2 months. This is very important, because if the children do not know how to read and write their own language, it will gradually disappear, and the next generation will no longer know the traditional language.”
The children learned the alphabet, learned to read, write, and learned the teachings of Buddha. To make the children happy and ready to go to class, the monks had to go to each house to persuade them, because not everyone was willing and knew the meaning of learning the national language. Going to class was difficult, but to “keep” the children was even more difficult, so outside of class time, the monks also organized folk games for the children. The wish of these “special” teachers was that all the children in the area could read and write fluently in their “mother tongue”, so every summer, the monks were very happy to welcome the children to the temple to study.
Master Kim Chi Thanh - the "special" teacher wearing monk's robes
…and special temples
Venerable Tran Van Tha, Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Soc Trang Province and abbot of Se Ray Ta Mon Pagoda, said that at first, teaching faced many difficulties because people were hesitant, especially worried about the cost of studying. After learning that the classes were free, their children could learn Khmer and were taught about human morality, the people were very excited and more and more people trusted their children to study at the pagoda.
Similarly, Venerable Thach Huon, the Board of Witnesses - Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Soc Trang Province, abbot of Tepearam Preychop Pagoda shared, “The pagoda is not only a place for religious activities of the people but also a place to teach doctrine and writing to monks and Buddhist children in the village. The pagoda's organization of Khmer writing classes and training contributes greatly to preserving and promoting the national writing; at the same time, it helps the children of the people have a healthy living environment and enrich their knowledge.”
Venerable Tang No, Head of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Soc Trang province, said that in recent years, with the attention of the Party and the State, pagodas have been built and renovated to be more spacious. Currently, more than 85% of the pagodas in the province have been built and repaired. In the pagodas, the teaching of Khmer language is always maintained, contributing to preserving the national cultural identity, promoting the improvement of people's knowledge, meeting the spiritual needs of monks and Khmer Buddhists in the province.
Talking to us, Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Soc Trang province Ly Rotha said that, implementing the Directive of the Secretariat on strengthening ethnic work in the new situation, in recent times, the lives of Khmer people in Soc Trang have always received attention and care from authorities at all levels. In addition to Khmer language classes at general and ethnic boarding schools, every year Khmer pagodas in Soc Trang open classes to teach Khmer to monks and ethnic children. This is a long-standing activity with practical significance, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Khmer language, writing and culture; at the same time, helping students in rural areas have a truly joyful and rewarding summer vacation.
This summer, 100 students came to the class. The elementary school children on summer vacation all went to the pagoda to study Khmer for 2 months. This is very important, because if they do not know how to read and write their own language, it will gradually disappear, and the next generation will no longer know the traditional language. (Monk LE SO PHEP, Prey Chop Pagoda) |
HOANG HUONG
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