Crossing the Ma River in search of words

Students of Thiet Giang village cross the Ma River.

Nestled at the foot of the majestic limestone mountains, Thiet Giang is as beautiful as a watercolor painting, but located between deep rivers and high mountains, it is no less isolated. To get to the commune center, people only have two options: cross the Ma River by boat or go around 20km along the mountain road to La Han Bridge. For students, especially those in middle and high school, the journey to school is not an easy one.

A new school year is starting, Thiet Giang village currently has more than a hundred students studying at all levels, including 19 preschoolers, 42 primary school students, 43 middle school students and 6 high school students. Every day, most middle school and high school students have to wake up very early, prepare their belongings and go to the ferry to wait.

Secretary of Thiet Giang village Party cell Pham Thi Tuyet could not hide her worry, saying: “We are very worried when seeing the children so young have to cross the river to go to school every day. It is difficult in the sunny weather, and even more dangerous in the rainy season. We just hope there is a bridge so that people are less isolated and the children can go to school more safely.”

Crossing the Ma River in search of words

Elementary school students in Thiet Giang area - Thiet Ong Elementary School during class.

Many times, parents have to take time off work to take their children to school. Teachers from other regions have to get used to taking the ferry every early morning and late afternoon. However, what many people admire is that the attendance rate of students in Thiet Giang is always 100%. In recent years, there has been no case of dropping out of school, despite all the difficulties and obstacles.

Ms. Pham Thi Nguyen, a teacher at Thiet Giang branch of Thiet Ong Kindergarten, has been crossing the river every day for the past 6 years to get to class. She is in charge of 19 children, many of whom have special circumstances such as parents working far away, living with grandparents, or even children from broken families.

Despite investment in electricity, roads, cultural houses, etc. from the National Target Program for New Rural Development, Thiet Giang is still in a particularly difficult situation. This village has 161 households, mainly Muong people, living on agriculture and forestry, most of which are still self-sufficient.

The classrooms are simple, the supplies are lacking, the water for daily use must be obtained from local residents, there is no school health worker, no first aid kit... "There are days when the children have high fevers and cough a lot, I just know how to apply a towel, wipe their bodies, and then call their parents to pick them up. Without medical expertise, I dare not give the children medicine on my own, I just wish I had a small medicine cabinet and some basic first aid skills", Ms. Nguyen shared.

Ms. Nguyen also added that because the school does not have a boarding school, she often brings lunch with her, eats in class and rests at noon. All activities revolve around a small, rather cramped room. The teacher's greatest wish is to have a well to proactively provide clean water for the children's hygiene.

Currently, Thiet Ong Kindergarten is developing a plan to organize boarding meals at the Thiet Giang branch. According to Ms. Trinh Thi Tan, the school's principal, "the implementation will face many difficulties due to the lack of a kitchen, beds, blankets, etc. We will propose that the commune support drilling wells, renovating the school, and gradually creating better conditions for teachers and students."

Crossing the Ma River in search of words

She and children at Thiet Giang branch - Thiet Ong Kindergarten during singing and dancing class.

At the Thiet Giang hamlet of Thiet Ong Primary School, teacher Le Thu Ha - in charge of the area, said that there are currently 42 students studying in a combined class from grade 1 to grade 5. Although teaching a combined class is difficult, teachers still try their best to help the students keep up with the program. However, transportation for teachers is still a big obstacle. "We take a small boat carried by local people. Every day, several sisters contribute fuel money and labor costs to ask people to take us across the Ma River," Ms. Ha shared.

At the junior high and high school levels, students in Thiet Giang village have to go to the commune center to study. Despite the difficulties and hardships, their learning awareness is still very high. Mr. Le Ba Mo, Principal of Thiet Ong Secondary School, shared: "Although the students have to take the boat, they are rarely late for school. The learning spirit of students in Thiet Giang is very admirable."

Pham Thi Hinh, a 6th grade student, innocently said: “I want to become a teacher in the future, to teach the children in the village to read and write.” That simple dream is like a ray of light in the journey of overcoming difficulties of the children here.

Crossing the Ma River in search of words

Teacher Pham Thi Nguyen takes care of children at Thiet Giang branch - Thiet Ong Kindergarten.

The dream of having a bridge connecting Thiet Giang with the commune center has always burned in the hearts of the people here. Although there have been survey and measurement teams, all hope seems to be still in limbo.

Mr. Pham Van Thanh (62 years old) - a long-time ferryman here still remembers clearly the days when villagers had to cross the river by dugout canoe, risking their lives in the fast-flowing water. "Now there are motorboats, it's a bit safer. But every time there's heavy rain, or the hydroelectric plant releases floodwaters, the river water rises and flows rapidly, everyone is worried," said Mr. Thanh.

After many years of working as a ferryman, Mr. Thanh can no longer remember how many classes of students have passed by here, and many times he has had to transport seriously ill people to the emergency room in the middle of the night. He cannot bear to refuse calls at 1-2 am, because just a few minutes of delay can endanger the lives of villagers. "We cannot ignore people in need, but it is really dangerous. Once, the patient and I were almost swept away by the water," he said with a sigh.

“On normal days, the children’s way to school is already difficult, but during the rainy season, it is even more dangerous. Every time the hydroelectric dam releases floodwaters, the water becomes fierce, and the villagers are always worried when the boat carrying the children sways in the middle of the Ma River.”

Pham Thi Tuyet, Secretary of Thiet Giang village Party cell

Taking his 6th grade daughter on a late afternoon ferry, Mr. Pham Van Hiep (41 years old) confided: “Many days, seeing my daughter getting on the ferry to go to school when the Ma River water level rises, we are very worried. But what can we do now? We can only tell her to study hard so that she can have a better future.”

In Thiet Giang village, the biggest difficulty for students here is the traffic infrastructure. But it is also this situation that has fostered a very strong spirit of overcoming difficulties. It is known that the local Party Committee and government here are continuing to accompany and support schools in remote areas like Thiet Giang.

Crossing the Ma River in search of words

Retail location in Thiet Giang area - Thiet Ong Primary School.

On the last ferry of the day leaving Thiet Giang, we could clearly feel the eyes of children still looking towards the far shore. No matter how vast and dangerous the Ma River is, it cannot stop the desire to go to school of the children here. I secretly hope that one day near the bridge the dream will come true, when the silent calls by the river are heard and understood.

Ha Giang – Hoang Trang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/vuot-ma-giang-di-tim-chu-258460.htm