Preserving language and writing
Da Bac commune ( Ca Mau province) is an area with a large population of ethnic minorities, especially the Khmer people. To better care for the education of ethnic minority children, on September 12, 2014, the People's Committee of Ca Mau province issued Decision 1415 establishing Danh Thi Tuoi Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School.
Since its establishment, this school has not only trained local human resources for Khmer ethnic children in the area, but also taught the spoken and written language, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Khmer ethnic cultural identity.
“The school is very concerned about teaching ethnic minority languages to students. All slogans, signs, banners, etc., in the school use bilingual Vietnamese-Khmer language. The school organizes ethnic language classes for students three times a day per class. The teachers who teach Khmer are all Khmer people with expertise and a deep understanding of the unique culture of the ethnic minority group so that they can best convey knowledge to the students,” said Ms. Le Hong Thanh, the school's Vice Principal.
Mr. Tang Quoc Dat has worked at Danh Thi Tuoi Ethnic Boarding Junior High School for 10 years and is currently in charge of teaching Khmer to students. Mr. Dat said that most of the students here are Khmer but know little of their own language because families communicate with their children in Vietnamese in their daily lives, making teaching the ethnic language very difficult.
"When I first started teaching, I had to communicate with students bilingually, using body language and vivid illustrations to help them learn more easily. Those students who studied diligently, communicated regularly, and received additional support from their parents at home learned the ethnic language faster," Mr. Dat said.
Nguyen Yen Vy, an 8th-grade student at Danh Thi Tuoi Ethnic Boarding Junior High School, said that learning the ethnic language was difficult at first, but she enjoyed learning it to learn more about her ethnic culture. Currently, she can speak, read, and write some basic sentences. She will try to practice more, hoping to be fluent in the Khmer language after graduating from junior high school.
The Ca Mau Ethnic Boarding High School was established in July 2001 by a decision of the Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school had over 250 students, divided into 10 classes, of which more than 230 were ethnic minority students, mainly Khmer. One of the school's highlights is its continuous effort in preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Khmer people.
“The school is among the few educational institutions nationwide that organize Khmer language teaching as a core subject, with 3 lessons per week. The teaching staff are all professionally qualified, ensuring that language instruction is conducted systematically and scientifically. The majority of the school's students can read, write, and speak Khmer after graduating from high school,” said Ms. Ly Kim Khanh, the school's Vice Principal.
“As a Khmer person, not knowing how to speak my own language is a great shortcoming and disadvantage, so I will try my best to learn Khmer. Preserving the spoken and written language is also a way for me to preserve the traditional values of my ethnic group,” shared Thach Thi Ai Vy, a student in class 12C3 at Ca Mau Ethnic Boarding High School.
Ethnic minority cultural spaces in schools.
Besides helping students preserve their language and writing system, ethnic boarding schools in Ca Mau also build cultural spaces for ethnic minorities within the school. The graceful movements of the Ramvong and Coconut Shell dances, the vibrant sounds of the five-instrument orchestra… are frequently recreated in extracurricular activities, festivals, and celebrations of ethnic minorities right in the schools where the students are studying. The performances are elaborately staged, profound, and reflect the customs, beliefs, and spiritual life of the Khmer people.
“Every dance, every drumbeat… tells a story about the origins and spiritual life of the Khmer people. When children are exposed to it from an early age, their love for their ethnic culture will grow naturally. Therefore, the school regularly organizes cultural exchange activities, arts and sports events, especially during the festivals and holidays of the ethnic community.”
"In its activities, the school focuses on training students in life skills, building loving and united relationships, and preserving and promoting national cultural identity. The school has also established a Khmer Culture Club and a Five-Tone Music Club, where students can practice, perform, and experience traditional values," said Huu Ly Vui, Secretary of the Youth Union of Ca Mau Ethnic Boarding High School.
Ms. Le Hong Thanh, Vice Principal of Danh Thi Tuoi Ethnic Boarding Junior High School, believes that cultural preservation is not something far-fetched. The important thing is to cultivate habits and a sense of appreciation in each student so that they can proudly preserve their national identity.
"To help students preserve their national cultural identity, teachers play a crucial role and must truly be the ones who ignite the passion. Through each dance movement, rhythm, and the story behind each art form, teachers will help students understand that they are inheriting unique cultural values."
"Thanks to systematic investment, the school's arts programs have won high awards at competitions for many years in a row. This helps students hone their stage skills, increase their confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of the history, customs, and community spirit of the nation," shared Ms. Le Hong Thanh.
Danh Thi Sa Thia, a student at Danh Thi Tuoi Ethnic Boarding Junior High School, said that participating in the Ramvong dance or the Coconut Shell dance helped her better appreciate the softness and subtlety of traditional art. “I am happy to be taught by my teachers and to perform traditional dances of my ethnic group on stage. I am proud and always conscious of preserving and spreading the traditional values of my ethnic group to my friends inside and outside the school.”
In this era of integration and modernization, concerned that the beauty of traditional ethnic culture will gradually fade away, authors Thach Phat and Danh Ngoc Ai - class 12T, Bac Lieu Ethnic Boarding High School (Hoa Binh commune) - have implemented the project "Preserving and promoting the beauty of Khmer ethnic culture among students in schools".
The project proposed many excellent solutions to maintain and promote traditional Khmer cultural values, such as: designing a Khmer alphabet chart to be placed in a visible location for students to learn every day; helping students learn the five-tone musical instrument; encouraging students to wear traditional ethnic costumes and participate in traditional festivals and folk games... This project won fourth prize in the Provincial Science and Technology Competition for the 2024-2025 school year in Ca Mau.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/truong-dan-toc-noi-tru-giu-hon-van-hoa-khmer-post762040.html
