An Giang mountainous commune takes care of Khmer students going to school

O Lam is a mountainous commune of An Giang province with more than 65% of Khmer ethnic people living there. After the merger, one of the key tasks of O Lam commune is to do a good job of social security, focusing on taking care of students going to school, especially Khmer ethnic students.

Focus on renovating and upgrading facilities to prepare for the new school year

After the merger, O Lam has 12 kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. The local government and school leaders plan to purchase equipment, renovate facilities, arrange teachers and staff, and focus on equipping Khmer students preparing to enter grade 1 with Vietnamese to prepare for the new school year.

The 2025-2026 school year is also the first year of implementing the two-tier government model, so there are still difficulties in organization and funding. However, educational institutions in O Lam have proactively developed plans, coordinated with local authorities to review the number of children for early enrollment, urgently repaired classrooms and auxiliary works, and mobilized social resources to care for disadvantaged students, preventing dropouts.

Repair and equip desks and chairs for the new school year at An Tuc A Primary School.

As one of 6 primary schools in O Lam commune, A An Tuc Primary School plans to mobilize 16 classes with over 390 students. Of which, there are about 370 Khmer ethnic students and 32% of students are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mr. Tran Ba Pham, Principal of An Tuc A Primary School, said that the school currently has 18 classrooms and functional rooms such as Equipment - Library, Information Technology, etc. The school is investing in building 10 more rooms at the main location and 4 rooms at the secondary location, expected to be put into use in September 2025. At the same time, tables, chairs, and televisions are also fully equipped, basically meeting the requirements for teaching 2 sessions/day according to the 2018 General Education Program.

In the 2025-2026 school year, O Lam commune has 12 schools at 3 levels, of which 4 schools meet national standards including Luong Phi Kindergarten, Luong Phi A and B Primary Schools, and Luong Phi Secondary Schools. The facilities of the schools are invested in solid and spacious; the pedagogical environment is improved in the direction of Green - Clean - Beautiful - Safe. The team of managers and teachers basically ensures the structure and professional qualifications.

The working delegation of the People's Committee of O Lam commune surveyed educational facilities in the area.

Through a survey of educational establishments, Ms. Neang Sam Bo - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of O Lam Commune (An Giang Province) directed the Department of Culture - Society, the Department of Economy and related units to synthesize the needs and recommendations of schools to advise and propose to competent authorities for consideration and resolution. At the same time, she requested that schools coordinate with the Hamlet Committee and mass organizations to mobilize students to go to class, especially paying attention to children who follow their parents to work far away, ensuring that 100% of children complete primary school in grade 6 and 100% of preschool children in grade 1.

Schools also beautify the landscape, clean classrooms, and add equipment for the new school year; focus on school safety, fire prevention, injury prevention, school violence prevention, and building national standard schools.

Sponsors give bicycles and "Step Up to School" gifts to disadvantaged students.

Mobilizing resources together with "Helping children go to school"

Mr. Tran Ba Pham, Principal of A An Tuc Primary School shared: "To create conditions for disadvantaged ethnic students to continue going to school, the school coordinated with local authorities and organizations to mobilize and give 390 gifts to Khmer students including: uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, with a total cost of 90 million VND.

In addition, the school also opens 2 classes to teach Vietnamese for ethnic minority students before entering grade 1; maintains teaching Khmer for students in grades 1 and 2 and teaches Foreign Languages and Information Technology for students in grades 3, 4, and 5.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/xa-mien-nui-an-giang-cham-lo-cho-hoc-sinh-khmer-den-truong-post744469.html