Dr. Ngo So Phe is the first female principal of the Southern Khmer Language, Culture, Arts and Humanities School, affiliated with Tra Vinh University. She is a shining example of the resilient Khmer community, always striving to improve her knowledge and contribute to preserving her national cultural identity.
Dr. Ngo So Phe, Rector of the Southern Khmer Language, Culture, Arts and Humanities School, Tra Vinh University. Photo: Thanh Hoa - VNA.
* Aspiration to enhance knowledge
Dr. Ngo So Phe, born in 1981 into a family with a rich revolutionary tradition in Kim Son commune, Tra Cu district – a particularly disadvantaged rural area of Tra Vinh province, where over 90% of the population is Khmer – received an early education in patriotism, national pride, and the will to succeed through the teachings of her father, the former Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Tra Cu district. From elementary school, her father encouraged her to study hard and valued knowledge. He often said: “I have nothing to leave my children except knowledge. Because this is the greatest asset in life, you must strive to study hard and become successful.”
Those words of advice are not only a precious memory but also a guiding principle that has led the four siblings in her family to diligently pursue their studies. Despite the family's many difficulties and hardships, all four siblings followed their father's teachings, persevering through obstacles to rise above their circumstances, becoming educated citizens and contributing to the development of their homeland.
Ngô Sô Phe's childhood was filled with cycling more than 8km to school, rain or shine. Because her family was struggling financially, after graduating from high school, she and her brother decided to attend vocational school to save money and start working early to help support their parents.
In 2001, after graduating from vocational school, she was recruited to work at Tra Vinh Community College, the predecessor of Tra Vinh University today. This was a turning point marking the beginning of her educational career and the place that nurtured the aspirations of this Khmer girl from the poor rural area of Kim Son to enhance her knowledge. It was from here that her journey of self-improvement began, persistently and steadily progressing from vocational school to university, then postgraduate studies, and finally to a doctorate.
As the first Khmer woman in Tra Vinh province to receive a PhD funded by the state budget, Dr. Ngo So Phe chose a scientific research path closely linked to real-life situations and the knowledge development needs of ethnic minority communities.
Her doctoral dissertation focuses on improving the quality of human resources for Khmer ethnic women. This is a vulnerable group, disadvantaged because they are both women and ethnic minorities, suffering from many disadvantages due to outdated social prejudices. Therefore, her scientific research has received deep attention from the community, especially the Khmer people and leaders at all levels.
Dr. Ngo So Phe has dedicated her heart and time to researching, preserving, and promoting the cultural identity of the Khmer ethnic group. Her research is considered a core element in building the foundation and developing human resources for Khmer women, making a significant contribution to equality and improving the social status of Khmer women in Tra Vinh in particular and Khmer women in the Southern region in general. Her research and scientific activities contribute to preserving and promoting cultural identity and improving the material and spiritual lives of the Khmer people in the Southern region.
Dr. Ngo So Phe (second from the right), Rector of the Southern Khmer Language, Culture, Arts and Humanities School, Tra Vinh University, attends an international scientific conference. Photo: Thanh Hoa - VNA
Connecting knowledge with identity
Dr. Thach Thi Dan, Vice Rector of Tra Vinh University, stated: “Dr. Ngo So Phe, Rector of the Southern Khmer Language, Culture, Arts and Humanities School, has effectively led and implemented the national task of training human resources in the fields of Southern Khmer language, culture, and arts. The school's outstanding achievements contribute to preserving Khmer cultural identity in the digital age, promoting innovation and sustainable development in the region.”
Currently, the Southern Khmer Language, Culture, Arts and Humanities School trains over 2,500 students from college to doctoral levels. In addition to regular training, the school also organizes Khmer language training courses for officials, civil servants, and members of the armed forces in localities with large Khmer populations throughout the country. These training courses help improve communication skills, cultural understanding, and contribute to improved management, policy dissemination, and community cohesion. The training programs also contribute to preserving ethnic cultural identity, linking it with tourism development, raising skills, creating sustainable livelihoods, and promoting socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas of Southern Vietnam.
Mr. Thach Mu Ni, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Tra Vinh province, highly appreciated the contributions of Dr. Ngo So Phe. He stated that Dr. Ngo So Phe and the Southern Khmer Language, Culture, Arts and Humanities School not only contributed to training high-quality human resources for the country but also served as a prime example of linking knowledge with identity, and developing culture in conjunction with the economy – a sustainable direction in building and protecting the Fatherland.
The female PhD holder has strongly inspired younger generations of Khmer people and other ethnic minority communities, serving as a prime example of someone who rose from humble beginnings – graduating from a vocational school, overcoming numerous obstacles related to circumstances and geographical distance – to become a PhD holder and an outstanding education administrator, a symbol of overcoming adversity among Khmer intellectuals. This proves that: "Anyone, no matter where they start, can go far if they have ambition and perseverance."
"Tra Vinh is the province with the highest Khmer population in the country, accounting for nearly 32% of the province's population. Over the years, Party committees and authorities at all levels have consistently focused on education and training, raising the intellectual level of the Khmer community. A proud achievement is the increasing number of Khmer officials in Tra Vinh, now accounting for approximately 22% of the province's more than 23,000 officials, civil servants, and public employees. Many are highly qualified and actively contribute to the construction and development of their homeland."
Dr. Ngo So Phe was awarded the Third-Class Labor Medal by the State, along with many provincial-level emulation titles... Notably, she is one of six outstanding individuals nationwide to be honored in the Vietnam Glory Program 2025, which will take place on June 22nd.
Dr. Ngo So Phe's achievements are not only measured by his academic rank and degree, but also by the profound spiritual value he embodies: a role model of overcoming difficulties, a rich dedication, a source of pride for the Khmer community, and an inspiration for the younger generation to elevate their knowledge and contribute to their homeland and the Vietnamese nation.
Source: https://chinhsachcuocsong.vnanet.vn/vinh-quang-viet-nam-nguoi-giu-lua-van-hoa/63184.html
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