(VOVWORLD) - January 24th is observed as International Day of Education to honor the role of education in ensuring world peace and sustainable development. In Vietnam, universal education is a national concern, a concern shared by Ia Nan commune, Gia Lai province.
 (Illustrative photo: giaoducthoidai.vn) |
Life is difficult for the ethnic minority people in Ia Nan border commune, Gia Lai province, so local authorities and social organizations have coordinated with schools to help local poor students attend school.
10-year-old Ko Pui Tri is an orphan who lives in Nu village with his aging grandmother. They are very poor, and his study is interrupted from time to time. The officers and soldiers of Ia Nan border station and the Gia Lai provincial Border Guard have made sure Tri can continue going to school.
“I’m very happy that the soldiers adopted me. They help me study, make sure I eat and sleep, and make sure I live in a clean, tidy house,” said Tri.
Ko Pui Tri is just one of many pupils in difficult circumstances at Ko Pa Ko Long Primary School who have been adopted by the soldiers of the Ia Nan border station. Some of them sleep at the border station. Others receive 200 USD per month to live in a house.
Major Ro Lan Thuc, Vice Political Commissar of Ia Nan border station, said: “We have implemented an adoption program for local children, and a model of giving vegetables and rice to boarding pupils. Officers and soldiers are aware of our responsibility to help the children. We are determined to carry out duty and not flinch from difficult tasks.”
Ko Pa Ko Long Primary School has 371 pupils in grades 1 to 5. All of them belong to the Ja Rai ethnic group. Headmistress and teacher Tran Thi Nhung says that, because their parents have to work in the fields all day, the children must walk to school. The school has organized a second facility to allow 1st grade and 2nd grade pupils to study near their home. Now only the older pupils attend the main school.
“The school provides the pupils transportation, books, school supplies, and shoes. At the beginning of the school year, we prepare all the books and school supplies they’ll need,” said Mrs. Nhung.
In the last 7 or 8 years, 100% of the children in Ia Nan commune have attended school, thanks to the efforts of the local authorities and border soldiers.