Literacy classes in the highlands

Quang Ninh has just been recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training as having achieved level 2 literacy standards in 2022. This is a result of the province's efforts, creative approaches, and specific solutions in improving the quality of education, caring for the lives of people in ethnic minority, mountainous, border, and island areas; and the efforts of the people, especially people in ethnic minority areas.

"Light up " the highland village

People in Ngan Vang Giua village (Dong Tam commune, Binh Lieu district) go to evening literacy classes.

Every evening from Monday to Friday, the XMC class at the Cultural House of Ngan Vang Giua village (Dong Tam commune, Binh Lieu district) resounds with the reading: “The stream flows murmuringly. The wind rustles. The child sits and plays the flute”… Like other XMC classes, the class at Ngan Vang Giua village is diverse in terms of student age. The oldest person is nearly 65, the youngest is nearly 20. Most of them are the main pillars of their families, always busy with fields, gardens, and fields… Some are grandparents, but this is the first time they have learned to read and write. They all hope to learn to read, write, and calculate. Despite their awkward faces, clumsy hands, and scribbled handwriting, marked by the hardships of life, everyone is very enthusiastic about learning.

People in Ngan Vang Giua village after more than 1 month of studying literacy class can now write.

Mr. La Van Thong, Party Cell Secretary and Head of Ngan Vang Giua Village, shared: This year, the village has 20 people participating in the XMC class. After completing this class, the village will no longer have illiterate people. In recent years, people's lives have improved, every house has a smartphone, TV, etc. Since then, people's awareness of literacy has also changed, wanting to be literate to access information.

At the age of becoming a grandmother, Ms. Ninh Thi Chan (Ngan Vang Giua village) does not mind the distance, regularly going to class every day. While holding a pen to write, Ms. Chan shared with us: "In the village now, many people know how to read, write, and calculate. If I don't know, I will be very backward. After a period of attending the XMC class, I can write my name and read and write some simple words when doing administrative procedures without needing to point like before. I am very happy. Hopefully after the class, I will be able to read, write, and calculate fluently."

Teachers of Binh Lieu Town Primary School and officials of Luc Hon Commune encouraged Mr. La Tien Dich, Ban Pat Village (2nd from left) to attend literacy classes regularly.

Like Ms. Chan, due to difficult family circumstances, a large family, and a school far away, it was not until he became a grandfather that Mr. La Tien Dich (Ban Pat village, Luc Hon commune, Binh Lieu district) was able to go to school. For many years, he wanted to escape illiteracy like many people, but because of life's worries, his wish just slipped away. After being promoted by commune officials, in early April 2023, when the XMC class was opened at the Ban Pat village Cultural House, Mr. Dich registered to study. Every night, he enthusiastically took his books to class to get letters and numbers, to fulfill his long-standing wish and also to not be left behind. During his class hours, he was always accompanied, supported, and encouraged by his wife. Mr. Dich shared: "Now that I have a grandchild, if my grandparent asks, I feel embarrassed that they don't know how to read and write."

Mr. La Tien Dich (Ban Pat village, Luc Hon commune, Binh Lieu district) reviews his lessons at home before going to the literacy class.

The XMC classes in Binh Lieu district have a full attendance thanks to the persistent, tenacious, and fearless efforts of many teachers, as well as the dedicated teaching of many teachers. Despite the long distance by motorbike, and even though they have to teach at night, the teachers still diligently go to class every day, bringing the light of knowledge to the people in the highlands.

Teacher Hoang Van Muoi, Hoanh Mo Primary School, has been a teacher of XMC classes in Dong Tam commune for 3 consecutive years. The road is more than 10km long, with winding hills and dark, but it has never discouraged the young teacher. He said: Ethnic minority students use many different languages and customs, so teaching letters is more difficult. However, most students are eager to learn, attend classes regularly, and attend classes regularly. For example, Mrs. Lan Thi Sin, 65 years old, although she already knows how to read, write, and calculate, this year she continues to attend classes to improve. After a period of study, the students have made clear progress, being able to read and write. Now everyone is confident and boldly volunteers to go to the board.

Teacher Phan Thi Hien, Binh Lieu Town Primary School, shared: "I have been teaching XMC classes for 4 years now. This year, the class at the Ban Pat Village Cultural House (Luc Hon Commune) has 24 students who are Dao, San Chi, and Tay ethnic groups. Students are of different ages, jobs, and levels, so in addition to regularly coordinating with the village and commune to visit their homes to mobilize them, I am also flexible about time, combining many teaching methods to make it easier for students to absorb, and arranging extra teaching time. Certainly, the light from the written word will contribute to continuing to change the lives of people in my hometown."

“ Wind ” changes from thinking

In recent years, many XMC classes have been organized in districts in the province such as Ba Che, Hai Ha, Dam Ha, etc. for the people. Thanks to that, people can easily access new information, improve their knowledge, escape poverty, develop the economy , and build a civilized life.

Up to now, 13/13 district-level localities and 176/177 commune-level localities of the province have met the XMC level 2 standards. People aged 15-35: 443,740 people are literate at level 1 (99.85%), 443,356 people are literate at level 2 (99.76%); people aged 15-60: 929,842 people are literate at level 1 (99.68%), 925,530 people are literate at level 2 (99.25%). The team of managers and teachers at all levels and basic education levels meet the requirements for universalizing XMC education . The province's educational network is diverse, with all types, basically meeting the people's learning needs, and is streamlined to effectively use investment resources. The province currently has 646 educational institutions; The rate of solid classrooms is 92.1%; the rate of schools meeting national standards is 89.19% (561/629 schools).

Teacher Phan Thi Hien (Binh Lieu Town Primary School) is always dedicated to literacy classes.

The results are from the special attention, close direction and companionship of the locality, from cadres, people to teachers in the journey of universalizing XMC education. The Provincial People's Committee has issued many documents directing the implementation to improve the quality of education in general, universalizing XMC education in particular, such as: Decision No. 879/QD-UBND dated March 24, 2021 on the establishment of the Provincial Steering Committee for Universalizing XMC Education for the period 2021-2025; Resolution No. 34/2021/NQ-HDND of the Provincial People's Council stipulating a number of service fees to serve and support educational activities in public preschool, general education and continuing education institutions in the province... The correct, timely and appropriate decisions have blown a "wind" to change the thinking, awareness and actions of all classes of people about universalizing XMC education.

The provincial Education sector has coordinated with relevant departments, branches, units and localities to review the needs for facilities, prioritizing ethnic minority, mountainous, border and island areas, ensuring focus and key points; advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue Decision No. 1355/QD-UBND dated May 23, 2022 "Approving the Project on renovating, repairing, upgrading and completing facilities of the provincial Education sector for the period 2022-2025". Thereby, allocating investment resources for localities to purchase teaching equipment (the budget in 2022 is 238.624 billion VND, in 2023 is 440 billion VND).

Teacher Hoang Van Ngu, Principal of Dap Thanh Primary School (Ba Che District) shared: The school is located 30 kilometers from Ba Che town, currently has over 200 students with 4 school locations; of which the central school has about 100 students. Located in a mountainous commune, economic conditions are still difficult, over 98% of the students are ethnic minorities, but with the attention of the district, the school has invested in repairing and building many new construction items, put into use in 2022. Up to now, the school has become more spacious, clean, beautiful, spacious, and airy than before, meeting all the criteria of a national standard school.

XMC is a major policy of the Party and the State to create a solid intellectual foundation for developing high-quality human resources, contributing to narrowing the gap between regions and improving the quality of life for the people. The journey to achieve XMC level 2 standards is not easy, it is the result of the participation of all levels, sectors, localities and the efforts of the people, especially the people in ethnic minority areas.

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