Extremely difficult highland commune, 90% ethnic minorities
After the new administrative unit arrangement, Si Ma Cai commune ( Lao Cai province) was formed from the merger of administrative units: Si Ma Cai town; San Chai commune; Nan San commune; Can Cau commune; Quang Ho Than commune.
A "literacy eradication" language and writing class for Mong ethnic students in Si Ma Cai commune.
The new commune has an area of 109 km2 , a population of 22,871 people, including 15 ethnic groups, of which 90% are ethnic minorities. Therefore, the work of eliminating illiteracy has always been given great attention by the Party Committee and the People's Committee of the commune and has achieved many remarkable results.
In 2025, Si Ma Cai commune will achieve the illiteracy eradication standard of level 2 for lower secondary education and the universal primary education standard of level 3. 15/20 schools managed by the commune will meet national standards. However, due to the specific terrain and history of cultural development in the locality, some people were previously not interested in writing, and could not even speak Kinh fluently.
Mobilize even students who are not yet fluent in Mandarin
As a particularly difficult highland commune with rocky terrain, the work of synthesizing, detecting, and mobilizing students to participate in initial literacy classes encountered many difficulties.
According to Mr. Nham Tien Duc, Head of the Department of Social Culture - Si Ma Cai Commune, mobilizing people to participate in literacy classes in the early stages is very difficult, because most illiterate people are of working age, so they have to prioritize their time for work to earn a living. Many people have local household registration but often travel far away to work, making it difficult to arrange time to go to school.
On the other hand, students initially felt self-conscious and hesitant to attend classes because they were all old. According to statistics, the literacy classes held in Simacai, most of the students were between 45 and 55 years old. There were people who could not speak Kinh fluently, and even before taking literacy classes, some students did not know Kinh.
With the unique cultural characteristics of ethnic minorities, especially the Mong people, women in the family are the ones who have to shoulder a lot of work. Therefore, convincing them to participate in literacy classes means having to get the consent of their husbands, children... even the whole extended family.
Teachers' enthusiasm
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai, a teacher at Nan San Primary Boarding School, is assigned to be in charge of one of the literacy classes in the commune. Talking about her memories in class, Ms. Hai could not help but choke up, because the students were all the same age as her brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles in the family. Every day she went to class to teach, it was like returning to her own family.
Talking about the specifics of literacy activities in Simacai, Ms. Hai said that teaching literacy here must come later, because at first, Vietnamese must be taught to students first, then gradually, corresponding to each student, we must both teach Vietnamese and literacy.
Ms. Hai's class has 20 students, 100% of whom are middle-aged and elderly Mong people, and the teachers are not fluent in Mong. Therefore, the teachers have to ask many students in the class to both study and act as interpreters for other students.
“At first, the teachers were shy and didn’t speak or write. Later, I enthusiastically taught and happily brought up stories from the village. Gradually, when I read, the students also read along and cooperated with me,” Ms. Hai shared.
Reaping the rewards of literacy work
According to statistics compiled by the People's Committee of Si Ma Cai commune, in 2025: for the age group from 15 to 25 years old, the literacy rate of people at level 1 will reach 99.8%, and that of people at level 2 will reach 99.7%; for the age group from 15 to 35 years old, the literacy rate of people at level 1 will reach 99.8%, and that of people at level 2 will reach 99.7%; for the age group from 15 to 60 years old, the literacy rate of people at level 1 will reach 99.03%, and that of people at level 2 will reach 95.13%. In 2025, Si Ma Cai commune will ensure the conditions and standards for achieving level 2 literacy.
Previously, in the period of 2021 to 2025, the People's Committee of Simacai district (according to the old name) directed the opening of 13 literacy classes with 290 students participating, of which: phase 1 literacy class has 6 classes, 120 students; phase 2 literacy class has 7 classes, 170 students.
Currently, in 2025, in the new Si Ma Cai commune, the People's Committee assigned the Commune Community Learning Center to organize 5 literacy classes with a total of 100 students attending. However, due to difficult economic conditions, some students have left the locality to work far away.
In the period of 2025 - 2030, in order to demonstrate the commune's special attention to illiteracy eradication work, the Party Committee of Si Ma Cai commune issued Project No. 04-DA/HU dated August 28, 2025 on improving the quality of human resources associated with job introduction, meeting the needs of the labor market.
Each year, the commune will open 1 to 2 literacy classes for people aged 15 to 60, raising the literacy rate to 97% or more.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/si-ma-cai-no-luc-xoa-mu-chu-cho-dong-bao-dan-toc-vung-cao-post887699.html
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