Classes that light up knowledge in the difficult land of Dam Rong 4

Established from three particularly difficult communes, Da Long, Da Tong (formerly Dam Rong district) and Dung K'No (formerly Lac Duong district), Dam Rong 4 commune is changing every day. Not only thanks to new roads and green corn fields, but also because the light of letters is gradually spreading in each village thanks to the literacy classes organized by Lam Dong National Defense Economic Group (Military Region 7).

The land of hardship and the journey to find the light of words

Dam Rong 4 has more than 90% of the population being K'Ho and M'nong people. Living their whole lives on the fields and in the mountains and forests, many people have never left their villages. Therefore, even though they have gone to the other side of life, many people have never learned to read and write.

Mr. Ro Je Ha Ang, a resident of Dam Rong 4 commune, is a typical example. All his life he has grown rice and worked on the fields. Although he is 63 years old, he is still illiterate.

That's why, when Lam Dong National Defense Economic Group (Military Region 7) opened a class "Teaching Mandarin combined with literacy for adults", he was determined to go to class.

The students in the class are mainly elderly people.

Mr. Ro Je Ha Ang’s calloused hands, which used to grow rice and take care of coffee, now write each letter and number carefully. He emotionally shared: “I was illiterate, so every time I went to do administrative procedures, I could only point. Now that the soldiers have taught me how to read and write, I can write my name. I am very happy, I feel like I am young again.”

Next to Mr. Ha Ang, Mrs. Cil K Jí, 57 years old, still writing each letter carefully, said: “At first I was so scared, my hands were shaking so much I couldn’t write. Now every night I look forward to going to class, not only to learn but also to listen to the soldiers teach me how to avoid being lured by bad guys. I’m old but I see that there are still many new things in life.”

The green shirt "letter sowers"

These special classes are held right in Chieng Cao Cil Mup village, where the lights are turned on from 7 pm. The blackboard and tables and chairs are simple, but filled with laughter. The teachers are officers and soldiers of Lam Dong National Defense Economic Group (Military Region 7), the "green-shirted teachers" who are with the villagers day and night.

Captain Dinh Van Thiep, Deputy Head of Production Team 1, in charge of the class in Dam Rong 4, said: “When we heard about the opening of the class, people eagerly came to register. The number of 46 students was maintained for 6 months. All books, pens, and learning tools were prepared by the unit, so everyone felt more secure in coming to class.”

Mr. Thiep said that the lessons start with the simplest things: getting familiar with the alphabet, recognizing numbers, reading one's name, then moving on to simple calculation exercises. Between the lessons, the soldiers incorporate propaganda content about the Party's policies, State laws, or skills to avoid bad and toxic information on the internet, and how to recognize fake news.

Young soldiers patiently taught people to write and learn numbers.

“We not only teach people how to read and write, but also teach them life skills, helping them to be more confident when approaching a new life. Some people know how to read signs, use smartphones, and make video calls to their children who work far away. That is a joy that money cannot buy,” said Captain Dinh Van Thiep.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Thuy, Political Commissar of Lam Dong National Defense Economic Group (Military Region 7), in the past time, the unit opened 9 literacy classes with more than 370 students attending. Of which, Phuc Tho Lam Ha commune has 2 classes, Dam Rong 1 has 1 class, Dam Rong 2 has 3 classes and Dam Rong 4 alone has 3 classes, attracting a large number of people to participate.

“The goal is not only to help people learn to read and write, but also to confidently integrate into the community, access policies, grasp accurate information, and avoid being exploited by bad guys. At the same time, this is also a way for the army to get closer to the people, creating a bridge to strengthen the trust between the people and the Party, contributing to building a solid national defense posture in remote and isolated areas,” said Lieutenant Colonel Thuy.

Sweet fruit of the journey of sowing letters

In the evening classroom, when the electric light falls on the blackboard, the clumsy but determined letters gradually appear. Each stroke of the students' handwriting seems to tell a story of their journey to overcome fate.

From the class, people have been able to write their names, their children's names, and their grandchildren's names.

Mrs. Cil K Jí emotionally said: “I can write my name, my children’s names, and my grandchildren’s names. I also know how to read the instructions on fertilizer bags and medicine boxes to use them correctly when fertilizing rice and growing coffee for high productivity. Knowing how to read and write makes it easier to do paperwork at the commune level.”

Students who can read and write are the sweet fruits of the journey of "sowing letters" that the officers, soldiers and young volunteer intellectuals of Lam Dong National Defense Economic Group (Military Region 7) have persistently and tirelessly carried out for over two decades.

Not stopping at the initial results, Lam Dong National Defense Economic Group (Military Region 7) continues to coordinate with the Party Committees and authorities of the communes to open more classes in the sub-areas of Dam Rong 2 commune, expected to be deployed in the coming time.

In the middle of the vast forest, the small classrooms in Dam Rong 4 are still lit up every night. The children’s voices practicing spelling harmonize with the warm voices of the young soldiers. From those first letters, a new door is opening - the door of knowledge, of faith, of lasting change in this difficult land.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/nhung-lop-hoc-thap-sang-tri-thuc-o-vung-dat-kho-dam-rong-4-post756632.html