Improving the knowledge of ethnic minority people

We arrived at the two central school classrooms of Muong Cang Primary School on a day of heavy rain. Although it was 15 minutes earlier than the class time, many students were already present, with books and notebooks carefully kept in plastic bags to avoid getting wet. Teacher Vu Thi Hue did not need to take attendance because for more than a month she had known everyone's name and face. In the bright electric light, the elderly and middle-aged people sat upright, concentrating on listening to her lecture. Here, students were exposed to the Vietnamese alphabet, how to combine letters, learn math... Some had gray hair, their hands trembling as they held pens carefully, writing each letter in a straight line; some were busy all day in the fields, just waiting for the evening to come so they could eagerly read out loud the first sounds and rhymes. All of this created a learning atmosphere that was both simple and touching.

Muong Cang Primary School is currently opening 4 XMC classes, starting from September 8, 2025. Of which, there are 3 phase 1 classes with 55 students and 1 phase 2 class with 20 students. The classes are arranged at 2 school locations: Center (2 phase 1 classes, 36 students) and Phieng Cam (1 phase 1 class with 19 students, 1 phase 2 class with 20 students).

Sharing with us, Teacher Nguyen Le Thuy - Principal of Muong Cang Primary School said: "When we grasped the commune's plan, the school was assigned to be an important focal point in coordinating the opening of XMC classes. We based on the commune's targets, reviewed the number of illiterate people in the 13 villages under our management, coordinated with the village chief to propagate and mobilize people to register for classes. At the same time, the school advised the Commune People's Committee to develop a plan and prepare the necessary conditions to open classes."

To facilitate the teaching of students in XMC classes, the school has prepared all the necessary facilities such as desks, chairs, lighting, teaching equipment, and assigned teachers to teach XMC classes. At the same time, the school library department has been directed to calculate the number of students in both phases and to order all new books for teaching.

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Literacy classes in Than Uyen attract a large number of people to participate in learning, contributing significantly to the work of improving local people's knowledge.

In the past, many ethnic minority women were still shy and hesitant because of their age, but now, the class has become a place where they eagerly come to every night. The serious and hard-working learning spirit of the students makes the teachers touched.

Ms. Tong Thi Tinh (Pu Quai village) - a student of the first phase of the XMC class at the central school shared: "Before, when I went to the market, I looked at the prices but couldn't read them. Now that I'm in school, I hope to soon learn how to calculate to buy and sell more conveniently, without having to depend on others."

Implementing the Party and State's policy on universal education, building a learning society, and improving people's knowledge, Than Uyen commune has issued and deployed a plan to open XMC classes in 2025. In 2025, the whole commune will open 6 XMC classes at 2 Primary Schools: Hua Na and Muong Cang with 112 students participating (including 108 female, 100% ethnic minorities). The study period lasts from September 2025 to June 2026. The funding source is supported by the National Target Program on Socio -Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. This is a meaningful activity, contributing to helping people, especially ethnic minority women, access the written word, opening up new opportunities in life.

Sharing about the opening of XMC classes in the area, Mr. Phan Van Ngoc - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: Not only stopping at knowing how to read and write, XMC classes also open up many values for the community. When literate, people can easily access information, grasp new knowledge, apply it to production, livestock farming, and trading. They can use smartphones, integrate digital technology , access zalo groups of the village to grasp the Party's policies and guidelines, and the State's laws and policies. At the same time, studying also helps people to be more confident in communication, actively participate in social activities, contributing to building a rich and beautiful homeland.

Although initial positive signs have been achieved, in the implementation process, there are still certain difficulties in XMC classes such as: teachers have not been trained in depth on XMC teaching; maintaining the number of students requires closer coordination between the school and the villages. However, in the long term, for XMC classes to be effective, organizing training courses for XMC teachers from the Department of Education and Training is a necessary factor to improve the quality of teaching. At the same time, the commune needs to direct the villages to coordinate propaganda and mobilize people to maintain diligence.

Saying goodbye to the XMC classes, we saw the "bright eyes of faith" of the students when they had access to letters. The illiteracy eradication program in Than Uyen commune in 2025 has been "sowing seeds" and will continue to make an important contribution to the work of improving the intellectual level of ethnic minority people.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/xa-hoi/nang-cao-dan-tri-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-1259498