Flood season and the dream of a new school in the 'border area'

DNVN - Dawn in the border commune of Thuong Phuoc (Dong Thap province) begins with the sound of oars splashing in the water, the sound of bicycles clattering on the wet dirt road. In the midst of the flood season, teachers and students here still persevere to go to school, hoping for a new, spacious school so that the hardships of today will soon be gone.

Crowded classrooms

On the winding road leading to Thuong Thoi Tien 1 Primary School (Thuong Phuoc Commune), the silhouettes of children walking hunched over in the thin mist. We met Le Nhat Tien (5th grade student), whose clothes were still soaked after the morning rain.

“My house is nearly 5 kilometers from school, so every day we have to walk with our friends. On rainy days, we leave very early, and sometimes our clothes are soaked by the time we get to class,” Tien said innocently, then smiled when talking about his wish to have a new school so he wouldn’t have to walk far anymore.

The school's classrooms are dilapidated and have many cracks.

Stories like Tien’s are not uncommon in the border areas. The road to school often has to cross deep, slippery flooded areas. Especially during the flood season, going to class is not just about studying, but it becomes a small journey full of challenges.

In the old classrooms, Mr. Nguyen Van Thinh - Principal of Thuong Thoi Tien 1 Primary School, worried: "The school currently has only 19 rooms for 24 classes, no functional rooms, boarding area or cafeteria. We really hope to soon invest in a new school to have a cafeteria, nap rooms, and especially a playground for students. At that time, teaching and learning will be more scientific , helping students develop comprehensively."

A lesson of teachers and students of Thuong Thoi Tien 1 Primary School.

The lack of facilities has limited all learning and playing activities of students. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thu - Vice Principal of the school said that out of the 13 existing TV screens, many were bought by teachers with their own money. The satellite schools are still short of 10 TV screens, directly affecting the teaching according to the new program.

“In this small, cramped room, we have to share it with the equipment room, medical room , and team room. In particular, there is only one old, dilapidated restroom that cannot meet the urgent living needs of the more than 700 students currently,” Ms. Thu smiled gently but her eyes were full of worry.

Reporters noted that many desks, chairs, cabinets, and blackboards were in disrepair, and cracks appeared on the walls. The schoolyard was too small, the children only had a small space to play, and even had to lower their voices during physical education class for fear of disturbing the neighboring classes.

Little Dream

The flood season makes the teachers’ work even more difficult. Young teacher Ho Thi Tram Anh, the first person in the school to receive the title “Golden Chalk”, recalls: “There were many days when I had to wade through water to get to school, sometimes staying at school overnight because the way home was too dangerous. But seeing my students still coming to class regularly, I did not allow myself to be discouraged.”

If there were a boarding area, dormitory, and kitchen, teachers and students would have less trouble. “Students would feel secure staying and not drop out midway. Teachers would also have the motivation to stick around for the long term,” Ms. Thu added.

Due to the narrow playground, students at the border take advantage of recess to read books.

Ms. Dinh Thi Kim Tuyen, who has been attached to the border area for 13 years, was moved when she heard the news that a new school was about to be built: “It has been a long-awaited dream. A spacious school with enough classrooms and playgrounds will open a new door for students to access knowledge and nurture their dreams.”

Not only teachers, but students here also have ambitions. Le Nhat Tien dreams of becoming a doctor to take care of the health of people in the area, because the hospital is very far away. If there is a new school, Tien believes he will study well to make that dream come true.

Nguyen Thanh Hung (5th grade student) said with shining eyes: “I dream of becoming a teacher, returning to teach children in my hometown border commune. If there is a new school, my parents will worry less, I will have more time to study and participate in group activities. Especially, the new school has a playground, I will be able to play soccer freely with my friends.”

Those small but sincere dreams seem to give teachers the strength to persevere in class every day. “The new school will not only be a place to study, but also a second home, helping children grow up safe, healthy, and confidently step into the future,” Mr. Thinh believes.

Young teacher Ho Thi Tram Anh, the first person in the school to receive the title "Golden Chalk" is sharing about her career with reporters.

In the middle of the flood season, when the road to school is still long and muddy, the bright smiles of students and the perseverance of teachers are proof of the never-ending desire to learn. And a new, spacious, fully-equipped school will be a worthy reward for all those persistent efforts.

Efforts from the government and education sector

Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee said that, implementing the policy of the Ministry of Education and Training on building a system of boarding schools, inter-level primary and secondary schools in the mainland border communes, the province will invest in building and upgrading 42 schools.

According to the plan, Dong Thap province's functional sector will invest synchronously in facilities and teaching staff to ensure that border students have equal learning conditions with other areas, contributing to creating fairness in education. The total investment is expected to be about 2,097 billion VND, implemented in the period 2026 - 2030.

The schools are being built in border communes and wards such as Thuong Phuoc, Tan Ho Co, Tan Hong, Tan Thanh, Hong Ngu and Thuong Lac. Upon completion, 100% of schools in the Dong Thap border area will meet the minimum and level 1 infrastructure standards, and also meet national standards.

Teachers take a break in the small room shared by the equipment room, medical room, and team room.

A representative of the education and training sector of Dong Thap province said that after completing the investment in 42 schools, the sector will continue to standardize the teaching staff, improve teaching capacity according to the new general education program, and at the same time promote the application of modern educational models such as STEM and STEAM.

Currently, the province has 6 land border communes and wards with 75 schools of all levels and 82 separate locations, no boarding schools; the organization of new boarding schools is mainly implemented at preschool and primary levels. In the period of 2021 - 2025, the province has invested more than 498 billion VND to build 177 classrooms, 319 rooms for nurturing, caring for and educating children. Subject classrooms, functional rooms, living and administrative service areas and other auxiliary items for 25 schools at all levels.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Nhung - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Phuoc Commune informed that the locality has just issued a document proposing to adjust the investment scale of Thuong Thoi Tien Primary and Secondary School with 48 classes, about 1,960 students, ready to implement as soon as capital is available.

The investment figures are not only for educational infrastructure, but also a promise to teachers and students in the border areas that the future will be different. When new schools are built, the ferry trips carrying students during the flood season will be less arduous, the sound of school drums will be heard further, affirming the State's concern for the border areas, nurturing the dream of education and maintaining border security.

Major policies from the Central Government

Not only localities, the Central Government is also paying special attention to investing in schools in border areas. Deputy Chief of the Central Executive Committee Office Lam Thi Phuong Thanh has issued a document directing the construction of 100 inter-level boarding schools in border communes, prioritizing remote and isolated areas with a large number of ethnic minorities. This policy aims to avoid waste, ensure investment in the right places, on the right scale, create a favorable learning environment for students, and reduce the dropout rate.

An Xuyen

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/tin-tuc/mua-nuoc-noi-va-uoc-mo-ngoi-truong-moi-o-mien-bien/20251107120314559