Heartwarming teacher-student bond during the 10th grade entrance exam in Nghe An.

Crossing mountains to bring students to take the 10th grade entrance exam.

For three consecutive years, this vehicle has accompanied us, teachers and students, to the 10th grade entrance exam at the provincial ethnic boarding school – said Mr. Vi Van Ca, a teacher at Yen Tinh Ethnic Boarding Junior High School (Tuong Duong), when we met him at the gate of the provincial ethnic boarding school. Along with Mr. Ca's vehicle, another teacher's vehicle was also deployed to transport students to the second exam location at Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2.

Elaborating further on this, the head teacher said: "This year, our school has 7 students going to Vinh to take the entrance exam for the provincial boarding school. These are all students with good or excellent academic performance and a strong desire to learn. They are taking the exam, firstly for themselves and their families, but also to represent the school and their village. One student getting accepted into the boarding school is a source of shared pride for the entire school."

Teachers "escorting" students to exams is no longer unusual at Yen Tinh Ethnic Boarding Junior High School, a school located in a remote area more than 50km from Hoa Binh town via mountainous roads. This year, according to the school's statistics, 40 students from the entire school participated in the entrance exam for grade 10. In addition to 7 students taking the exam at the provincial boarding school, 33 students took the exam at Tuong Duong 1 High School.

Due to the fact that most of the school's students come from poor or near-poor families, with many parents working far away and the children living with their grandparents, the school assigned teachers to visit each family to accompany the students to the exams, arrange accommodation, and order meals for them during the days they were away from home. At the exam locations in Vinh City alone, the school assigned 3 teachers, including 2 vice principals. At the other exam location, which was closer, the school had to assign 10 teachers.

To complete the task, before the exam day, teachers had to call each parent to remind them to prepare personal belongings, clothes, books, and pens for their children. The school arranged transportation to pick up and drop off the students at the school. After arriving at the exam site, the teachers were responsible for all arrangements for the students.

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The school had 40 students taking the exam, but only a handful were accompanied by their parents. Seeing them like that, we felt so sorry for them, so we tried our best to care for them as if they were our own children.
Teachers themselves face a great deal of pressure, especially regarding the safety and health of their students. However, we also believe that with the support and guidance of their teachers, students will gain more confidence to perform their best on the exam.

Teacher Nguyen Sinh Thai – Vice Principal of Yen Tinh Ethnic Boarding Junior High School - Tuong Duong

One of the biggest motivations for the teachers and students of Tuong Duong Ethnic Boarding Junior High School is the school's relatively high annual pass rate. In recent days, in addition to teaching two extra regular classes for students at the school, teachers have also organized free evening classes to provide extra tutoring for exam candidates.

Vy Thi Hong Tham, a 9th-grade student from Cap Chang village (Yen Tinh commune), said: "This is the second time I've been to Vinh, and both times I went with my teachers. Last time, because I achieved the 'Excellent Student in Mathematics' award at the district level, the school rewarded me with a trip to visit historical sites and scenic spots. Currently, I'm a little nervous, but I will try my best to live up to the expectations of my teachers."

No candidate will be left behind.

Vi Thi Cuong, from Nam Xai village, Quang Phong commune, is a special candidate at the Que Phong High School examination center. Her home is 42 km from the school, and her family is facing difficult circumstances; her parents are separated and both work far away. For many years, she has been living with her paternal grandparents.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to take the 10th grade entrance exam," this female student shared as soon as she arrived at the gates of Que Phong High School this afternoon.

Previously, when the Principal of Que Phong High School received information from Cuong's homeroom teacher, the school discussed a plan to pick him up from Quang Phong Secondary School to take him to the exam. However, the distance was too far, over 42 km, and the journey was difficult. Afterward, the school contacted the Quick Response Team of the Que Phong District Police.

Upon receiving the report, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Minh Son – Head of the District Police – personally dispatched a specialized vehicle to the student's home to pick her up. In addition, the team provided her with free accommodation and food expenses during the exam period in the town.

On Route 7, at 6 PM this evening, Ky Son High School completed the first 450 free meals to serve students and their families participating in the entrance exam for 10th grade at Ky Son High School. Previously, according to the school's summary, this year the school has more than 800 registered candidates.

Approximately half of these candidates come from remote, rural areas with extremely difficult family circumstances. Besides having to travel long distances, the candidates and their families also struggle to find accommodation and food. Meanwhile, living conditions in the rented accommodations around the school are very makeshift and inadequate.

To help parents feel at ease when bringing their children to the exam, the school administration has decided to provide free accommodation and meals for both parents and students.

Accommodation is in the school's new dormitory building, which has been in operation for over a year. Meals are provided partly through contributions from teachers and partly from organizations and businesses located in the area.

Sharing more on this, Mr. Le Van Tao, Principal of Ky Son High School, added: "Each student in the mountainous district of Ky Son registering for the 10th grade entrance exam represents a great effort and endeavor. Therefore, despite the school's many difficulties, we hope to accompany and support the students so that they can feel at ease when coming to school to take the exam."

I also hope that these small actions will create a positive image, inspiring students to love their school and teachers, and to continue striving to complete their three years of high school. No one wants students to be left behind, and no teacher wants students to drop out of school early.