Thanks to that perseverance, many people learned to read and write for the first time, opening up opportunities for life-changing changes and igniting new hope on the mountain slopes.

The journey of literacy for special students

Late in the afternoon on the western slopes of Quang Ngai , the lights from literacy classes shine through the thin mist.

Mr. A Thui, from Ngoc Leang village (Tu Mo Rong commune), is one of the most diligent students in the class taught by Ms. Le Thi Ngoc (32 years old), a teacher at Kim Dong Primary School in Tu Mo Rong commune. For three months, he attended class on time every evening, despite being busy with farming all day. Having only started learning to read and write at the age of 45, he once felt ashamed for not being able to help his children with their homework. Since enrolling in the class, he has decided to quit drinking, a habit that was a part of his free time, and dedicate himself entirely to learning to read and write.

Mr. A Thui carefully writes each letter. Photo: TH

The path to class was only a few steep sections, but for him, it was a life-changing journey. Occasionally, when he didn't understand a lesson, he would jump up and ask in broken Vietnamese, making the whole class laugh. Ms. Ngoc didn't scold him; she patiently walked over and explained each letter to him. Two weeks later, he could write his own name, something that seemed impossible.

Learning to read and write changed his life. He could read farming instructions and keep his own agricultural records, things he had always needed help with before. "Only after learning to read and write did I realize how disadvantaged I had been all this time," Mr. A Thui said emotionally.

Ms. Ngoc's class has 18 students, each with their own story, but all sharing the common obstacle of feeling inferior due to illiteracy. She understands this and always gently encourages them. They work in the fields during the day and only come to class exhausted in the evening; some have poor eyesight, others forget things easily. Therefore, she has to prepare separate lesson plans, divide students into groups according to their abilities, provide extra tutoring for those who learn slowly, and assign more advanced exercises to those who learn quickly.

Ms. Trinh Thi Dung's class. Photo: TH

To make it easier for the students to understand, she uses familiar images like chickens, cassava, and bowls of rice, incorporating them into her lessons. Calculations are linked to the amount of rice harvested, the number of pigs and chickens in the pens, or the money earned from selling agricultural products. For her, learning to read and write is about applying it to life, not just theory. Her joy comes from seeing her students write their names or read a complete sentence – simple yet precious things.

The perseverance of those who choose teaching literacy as their way of life.

Not only Ms. Ngoc, but also Ms. Trinh Thi Dung – a teacher at Ya Ly Primary and Secondary School – has dedicated her heart and soul to literacy programs. Entering her second year in this role, she maintains the same passion as she did at the beginning. Her class includes students in their 30s and over 60s; each age group presents its own challenges, but all share a common desire to learn to read and write.

As soon as her regular school days ended, she would rush to prepare for her evening literacy class. She said the students were very diligent. "They only miss class when they are sick or have family matters to attend to," Ms. Dung said.

Everyone is studying attentively. Photo: TH

But to achieve the stability she enjoys today, Ms. Dung has overcome many hardships. Last year, she and her colleagues had to go door-to-door to persuade people to return to class. During the harvest season, classes were easily interrupted when people were busy with other tasks. At those times, she would walk many kilometers through the forest, regardless of rain or slippery roads, to convince each person to come back to class. "They were afraid of mispronouncing words, afraid of being ridiculed for incorrect calculations. I had to be patient to make them see the classroom as a friendly place," Ms. Dung recounted.

Ms. Dung also adjusts her lesson plans to suit each student. Those who learn quickly receive more extensive instruction; for those who learn more slowly, she sits with them, helping them with each calculation and each stroke of the pen, sometimes staying in class until 9 p.m. She says that teaching literacy to older learners requires much more patience.

Ms. Trinh Thi Dung, a teacher at Ya Ly Primary and Secondary School, also dedicates her heart and soul to literacy programs. (Photo: TH)

When Ms. Y Klưh (39 years old, from Chứ village) wrote her name for the first time, Ms. Dung was so moved that she could barely speak. Ms. Y recounted that she used to be afraid to hold a pen because she was always worried about making mistakes. Thanks to Ms. Dung's dedicated guidance, she is now more confident, and reading and writing are no longer a source of fear.

According to Y Phin, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ya Ly commune, teachers like Ms. Dung are always a pillar of literacy efforts in the locality. They not only teach in classrooms but also go to each household to encourage students to attend classes, persistently maintaining student enrollment. As a result, people are more confident in communication, and production efficiency is also higher. The government highly appreciates these silent contributions.

People are more confident in communication, and production efficiency is also higher.

Thanks to the dedication of teachers in the highlands like Ms. Ngoc and Ms. Dung, literacy has gradually crept into every home and every field of the local people. Those who were previously illiterate have now opened a new door for themselves, a door to knowledge and self-confidence. These simple classrooms amidst the vast mountains are bringing lasting and profoundly humane change to the western region of Quang Ngai.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/thap-sang-tri-thuc-giua-dai-ngan-quang-ngai-post759829.html