The story of young female teachers living in a border commune in Nghe An

Continuing the generationsteachers in remote areas, with the desire to teach studentshighlands, in the 2022-2023 school year, two teachers, Lo Thi Vuong and Kha Thi Hoa, have returned to teach at Huoi Co school (Nhon Mai Primary School). The school is located on a high hill. Here, the dry season is hot and dry; the rainy season is cloudy and cold. The hardships and difficulties are immeasurable, especially facing loneliness. Photo: Duc Anh

In Huoi Co, the Mong people are used to a hard life. They go to the fields at dawn and dusk; they return home at dusk. People usually go to bed early; they live a closed life, with little interaction. Therefore, the teacher's life revolves around the school. During the day, she has her beloved students to keep her busy and happy. At night, the feeling of loneliness, homesickness, and missing her children just surrounds her... The night in the highlands is cold, the two teachers always wish for the morning to come soon. Photo: Duc Anh

In fact, those personal torments are just a small part of the myriad of difficulties and challenges that teachers have to face when going up to the high mountains of Huoi Co. From the center of Nhon Mai commune, to get to Huoi Co school, one must overcome many steep slopes, following the mountainside... The village has no shops, all necessities for daily life must be calculated weekly to bring along. Photo: Duc Anh

Despite many difficulties and hardships, the two teachers Lo Thi Vuong and Kha Thi Hoa have never been discouraged. They always try to stay with the school and the village; with love and responsibility for the education cause in the highlands and for their young students. This school year, Huoi Co school has 2 classes (grades 1 and 2), with over 20 students. Teachers and students always have a close relationship... Photo: Duc Anh

It must be said that teaching Hmong students in Huoi Co is very difficult. They have just learned a little Vietnamese at school, but when they get home they communicate with their parents in Hmong, and the next day at school they forget the words they have learned. To help them understand, teachers must use two languages ​​(Vietnamese and Hmong), and need to be meticulous and patient; especially in Math, Literature, and vocabulary and sentence practice. Photo: Duc Anh

In this mountainous area, due to the difficult life and low level of education, many parents are still not really interested in their children's education. Teachers are always worried about "losing" students - children who drop out of school, follow their parents to the forest to clear fields, burn fields, and sow seeds. Therefore, the greatest joy for teachers is nothing more than seeing their children go to school every morning; and then gradually learn to read and write. Photo: Duc Anh

Teacher Lo Thi Vuong confided: Seeing the children gradually grow up; knowing how to greet, ask questions, and then gradually reading and writing fluently, all the hardships and worries of a teacher gradually disappear. The happiness of a teacher in the highlands is sometimes as simple as that. Photo: Duc Anh

The teachers in Huoi Co always want their students to have enough food, clothes, and to go to school every day; and hope that society will share more with students in the highlands. For their part, they just hope to have enough health to continue accompanying, guiding, and teaching the students... Photo: Duc Anh

On Vietnam Teachers' Day, the greatest gift that teachers here hope to receive is not flowers or material things, but the diligence, love of learning, and boldness in communication of their students... The development of the highlands is closely linked to the factor of human development. Teachers always strive for that development. Photo: Duc Anh