Female teacher said touching words 'If I had to choose again, I would still teach and stay in the border area'

Teacher Nguyen Thi Men shared: "If I could choose again, I would still choose teaching and if I could choose a place to work, I would still choose the border region of the Fatherland."

On the afternoon of November 13, the Ministry of Education and Training coordinated with the Vietnam Youth Union to organize a meeting with outstanding teachers participating in the program "Sharing with teachers 2025".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Men (teacher at Bat Dai Son Kindergarten, Can Ty Commune, Tuyen Quang Province) shared that the school she teaches at is located in a particularly difficult border commune. Here, 100% of the students are ethnic minorities, whose lives are still full of hardship. But right in the middle of the mountains and forests, in the "skin-cutting, flesh-cutting" cold of winter, she found the true meaning of the teaching profession and loved the innocent, naive faces even more.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Men (teacher of Bat Dai Son Kindergarten, Can Ty commune, Tuyen Quang province).

Despite the lack of facilities, simple school supplies, and language barriers as many children are not yet fluent in Vietnamese, she has never allowed herself to falter.

“The innocence, naive eyes and affectionate calls of ‘teacher’ from my students are a great source of encouragement, giving me the motivation to constantly try, be creative and contribute,” Ms. Men said. Without modern equipment, she makes use of all available materials, from corn husks, pebbles… to make toys and teaching aids.

“If I could choose again, I would still choose teaching as a career and if I could choose a place to work, I would still choose the border region of the Fatherland. Although the journey is difficult, the eyes and smiles of the students will be priceless rewards for the teacher's heart,” Ms. Men shared.

At the meeting with leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, many teachers also shared the shortages of teaching conditions, facilities and living conditions.

Ms. Giang Thi Tuyen, a teacher at Phu Lung Primary School (Bach Dich Commune, Tuyen Quang Province), said that all her students are ethnic minorities and come from poor families. “Since 2020, my school no longer has a boarding system. After school, looking at the bowls of rice that the students bring to school because they live far away and cannot return home, I am truly moved. Some students only have a little white rice. Some students do not even have white rice, they bring men men and some vegetable soup, no other fresh food,” the teacher said, choking up. She hopes that authorities will pay more attention to students in mountainous areas.

Ms. Giang Thi Tuyen, teacher at Phu Lung Primary School (Bach Dich commune, Tuyen Quang province).

Ms. Tran Thi Thao, a teacher at Dao San Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities ( Lai Chau province), is also concerned about the "modest" meals for the children. "Teachers like us can only encourage the villagers to bring more vegetables and food that they grow to contribute to the children's meals," Ms. Thao said.

Ms. Vang Thi Dinh, a teacher at Dong Van Ethnic Boarding Secondary and High School (Dong Van Commune, Tuyen Quang Province), expressed her hope that the Ministry of Education and Training would pay more attention to STEM education for students in mountainous areas. “In fact, the students are very creative, it’s just that we haven’t created opportunities for them to demonstrate their abilities,” the teacher said. She hopes that the Ministry of Education and Training can support some ethnic boarding schools with experimental equipment and STEM.

Professor Le Quan, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, emphasized that above all, the role of teachers is extremely important. Teachers are very concerned about their students and want to do better. The Ministry takes note of opinions and calculates each step, concretizing them with synchronous policies to support them.

At the ceremony, leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training also presented Certificates of Merit to 80 outstanding teachers nationwide who were honored in the program "Sharing with teachers 2025".

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Le Quan and Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam, Secretary of the Central Youth Union - President of the Vietnam Youth Union presented Certificates of Merit to outstanding teachers.

Teachers are working in 248 communes, wards, special border areas or at remote schools, schools in remote areas, border areas, areas with difficult socio-economic conditions; officers and soldiers of the Border Guard (teachers in green uniforms) participating in the work of eliminating illiteracy, teaching children and people in border areas and military areas. The selected individuals have made many contributions to the education of local students; created outstanding changes in the quality and effectiveness of education; have a spirit of perseverance, overcoming difficulties, and are dedicated to the cause of education, loved by students, parents and the community.

“Sharing with teachers” is an annual program to share and spread to the whole society beautiful stories about the journey of spreading knowledge and honoring the value of teachers.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nu-giao-vien-noi-loi-lay-dong-toi-van-chon-day-hoc-van-gan-bo-vung-bien-2462576.html