20 years of "growing people" on the "red line"

(Baonghean) - For the past 20 years, teacher Tran Duc Quy has been attached to Nhon Mai (Tuong Duong). This remote border area is his second homeland with a large, warm family.

Choose the "red line"

In 1996, at the age of 24, graduating from the Primary Teacher Training College, Mr. Tran Duc Quy (from Giang Son Dong - Do Luong) prepared his luggage to go upstream on the Lam River to Tuong Duong.As soon as he arrived, the head of the Department of Education pointed out the “red lines” on the map of the industry to choose from. Those “red lines” represented difficulties and shortages, mainly in remote areas.The young man made a decision in a flash: "Then I'll register to go to Nhon Mai", which is the most difficult place among the "red line" areas.

The journey to Nhon Mai took a whole day, and it was almost 10pm when he finally arrived at the school with a hungry stomach and a tired body. Before he could ask his colleagues, sleepiness overtook him, a deep sleep he had never experienced before in his life. Waking up, seeing the dilapidated bamboo school in the middle of nowhere, and the dirty children carrying their books to school, teacher Quy began to realize the hardships that awaited him.

Since then, Mr. Quy has been attached to the remote and isolated Nhon Mai, a place with plenty of sun, wind, and cold but lacking in many things. His footsteps have left their mark in all the Nhon Mai villages, including the remote villages that require a whole day of walking, such as Huoi Co, Huoi Man, Pha Mut, Tham Tham...

We asked: “After so many years of staying in Nhon Mai, what do you fear most?”, Mr. Quy immediately answered: “It is malaria, those who have not experienced jungle malaria cannot imagine how scary it is.” Jungle malaria often occurs in certain attacks, hourly. The body trembles, turns purple, the head feels heavy as if it is being hit by a hammer.

Teacher Tran Duc Quy with his parents.

For teacher Tran Duc Quy, it was a stroke of luck because he had the chance to spend his life with a beautiful Thai girl in this land. Malaria attacks made teacher Quy emaciated, unable to eat or drink. Pitying the sick teacher from the lowlands who had no relatives to take care of him, Vi Thi Tuc - a young girl from Nhon Mai village volunteered to take care of his daily meals.

When the malaria subsided, the love between the two came, very unexpected but also very reasonable and appropriate. Up to now, after nearly 15 years of living together, Mr. Quy's family has 4 members, his 2 children (1 girl, 1 boy) are both obedient and good at studying. A happy family life is a source of motivation and helps him feel secure in dedicating his intelligence and strength to the career of "sowing letters" in the remote border.

From teacher in remote areas to kindergarten principal

After working in Nhon Mai for 3 years, Mr. Tran Duc Quy was admitted to the Party and has been a member of the Party Committee of the commune for 3 consecutive terms. From a teacher in the village to a manager, he has thoroughly understood the land and people of Nhon Mai. At important meetings, his contributions have always been taken into account and recognized by local leaders.

As a party member and a manager, Mr. Quy has always been exemplary and dedicated, ready to accept and complete difficult tasks well. In 2013, while he was the Vice Principal of the Primary School, he was transferred to become the Principal of the Kindergarten. At first, he was inevitably worried and hesitant, because the new job was not in his field of expertise, and there was no precedent for a male teacher to be a manager at the Kindergarten level.

Teacher Tran Duc Quy buys furniture for the new house to welcome the Year of the Monkey.

But when the preschool level in Nhon Mai is still limited, if we increase the number of older female teachers, they will not be able to handle this difficult area. If we increase the number of young female teachers, they will not have enough management experience, because Nhon Mai is a special area. Only Mr. Quy is the most suitable person, because he has been attached to this land for many years, understands this land well, and has enough health to handle the task in a remote and isolated area.

When analyzed like that, Mr. Quy realized the reasonableness and happily accepted the new task. 2 school years have passed, from being at the bottom of the district, to now Nhon Mai Kindergarten has surpassed the middle group. That step has a great contribution from Principal Tran Duc Quy.

Teacher Quy shared: “20 years ago, I set foot in Nhon Mai, at that time this land was still very wild and isolated. Now it has completely developed, there are changes that I could not even dream of. I am really happy, because Nhon Mai is not too far away anymore.”

How could we not be happy when in the past we had to go by boat through many rapids and walk all day to reach Nhon Mai. Then the Nam Non River was blocked, and motorboats glided smoothly on Ban Ve Lake. Now the Western road has been completed, connecting the three remote districts of Ky Son - Tuong Duong - Que Phong, travel has become easy and convenient, with passenger buses going in and out of Nhon Mai regularly every day.

How can we not be happy when the phone signal has covered almost all the villages, shortening the distance with our homeland. And how can we not be happy when the national electricity grid has just been brought back, that source of civilized light will be the driving force to help Nhon Mai rise up and escape from poverty. It is unbelievable that the burning dreams of the people have become reality.

Teacher Tran Duc Quy (far left) visits relatives during Tet.

This Binh Than Tet, Mr. Tran Duc Quy has had a lot of joy, as his parents are both over 70 years old but still healthy, clear-headed and well-rounded. And after 20 years of saving, he and his wife have built a new house in the countryside, and this Tet they will bring the whole family back for a housewarming ceremony.

The bright smile on the dark face signaled that this Spring, kindergarten teacher Tran Duc Quy will have more joy. Saying goodbye to him, we truly admired an exemplary and devoted party member, a devoted teacher, a filial son, and an exemplary husband and father.

Cong Kien