Teacher 'borrows' Laos road to spread knowledge

Teacher Truong Vinh Tien has 30 years of experience ineducation in remote areas - Photo: HOANG TAO

Huong Lap is a commune bordering Laos, located in the farthest north of Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri . All 8 villages of this commune bear the deep footprints of teacher Truong Vinh Tien, 54 years old, of Huong Lap Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, for the past 30 years.

Walking and crossing the forest for 2 days to get to class to sow letters

In August 1996, Mr. Tien received a recruitment decision from the People's Committee of Quang Tri province, assigning him to teach primary school in Cu Bai village (Huong Lap commune). The name Huong Lap was very strange at that time and no one knew where it came from.

"When I came here, I saw that the village was poor and the students had no Vietnamese. The urge came deep down, no hardship is as bad as not having knowledge. Gradually, I got used to the school and the class, the students were obedient and studious, so I decided to stay in Huong Lap," said Mr. Tien.

The house was 60km from the school, at that time the traffic was isolated and traveling was very difficult. From his house in Tan Lap commune, he took a bus to Huong Phung commune, 30km from Huong Lap commune and the road ended. Teacher Tien had to "borrow" the Lao trail (which was a branch of the old Ho Chi Minh trail) to get to the village.

On lucky days, he asked to use an old Zin 3-wheel drive to go into the village to sell food and buy war scrap. He sat in the back of the truck, filled with the smell of fish sauce mixed with bombs and bullets, struggling for 2 days and nights to get into the village.

When he could not get a car, he walked through the forest until late at night. At this time, he could still hear the roar of tigers in the forest, and in the dark night he could clearly see the eyes like headlights of wild animals. In 2001, when the government built the new Ho Chi Minh road, traveling became more convenient for Mr. Tien.

After Cu Bai school, Mr. Tien always volunteered to go to the most remote schools such as Ta Rung, Cuoi, Tri, Ta Pang...

Lifelong dedication to the village

Wherever there is a shortage of literacy, Mr. Tien volunteered to set foot. All 8 villages of Huong Lap bear the imprint of this teacher's teaching. "Up to now, the parents of the whole commune know me, and I also know all the people of the commune," Mr. Tien said with a smile.

Currently, Mr. Tien teaches grades 1-2 at Ta Pang school. The school has 2 combined classes with 15 students. Although transportation and communication have improved significantly, the road here is still dusty and muddy in the sun and rain.

"My brilliant 20s were spent in the most difficult places. The hardships are now over. My children are independent, and my wife teaches elementary school, so we can sympathize. I vow to continue to contribute in the village until 2033 when I retire.

Students are studious, passionate about learning, parents are sincere with teachers. Looking back 30 years, I am proud to have contributed to bringing literacy to the most remote areas.

The students are now adults, secretaries, chairmen and officials of Huong Lap commune. They have returned to build their homeland and village, that is what makes me happiest," Mr. Tien confided.

Always volunteer to go to the farthest and most difficult places.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia, principal of Huong Lap Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, Mr. Tien is one of the first generations of educators present in the remote commune of Huong Lap.

"Mr. Tien is an old teacher, exemplary in teaching, dedicated to children, highly specialized, always volunteering to go to the most remote and difficult places. Recently, the Department of Education and Training of Huong Hoa proposed to transfer him to a more favorable place, but he refused, vowing to dedicate his life to the village area," said Mr. Nghia.

Read more Back to Topics

HOANG TAO

Source: https://archive.vietnam.vn/thay-giao-muon-duong-cua-lao-de-geo-chu/