Students in Con Co Island District now have a new school.

On November 22nd, in Con Co Island District (Quang Tri Province), the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), in coordination with the Vietnam National Petroleum Group, held the inauguration ceremony and put into operation the Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School.

This project is particularly significant for students and also creates favorable conditions for their parents to feel secure in their livelihoods at sea, contributing to socio-economic development and firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the nation's maritime territories.

A corner for school supplies and toys for preschool children.

In late September and early October 2013, a historic storm (storm number 10) struck Con Co Island district, completely destroying Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten. To maintain classes, Con Co Island district had to borrow facilities from other units to use as temporary classrooms for the students.

With the support of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation, organizations, individuals, and philanthropists, the Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School project commenced construction on June 8, 2014, in Con Co Island District. The project, implemented using a design-and-build model, has a total floor area of ​​approximately 500 m2, including: a teacher's office, two staff quarters, a kitchen for students and teachers, a primary school classroom, a kindergarten classroom, and three auxiliary areas.

The project, with a total investment of 4.8 billion VND, was funded by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Drilling and Services Corporation – PVD (Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group) and was completed and put into use on August 6, 2015. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the inauguration ceremony of Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School was only held now.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Manh Hung poses for a commemorative photo with officials, soldiers, civilians, and students of Con Co island district.

Expressing his delight at the construction of the new, spacious, and modern school, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Co Island District, Le Quang Lanh, said: "The project was completed and put into use just in time for the opening of the new school year 2015-2016. This is an important project, contributing to alleviating some of the difficulties in terms of infrastructure and fulfilling a long-awaited wish of the officials, soldiers, and people living on the island."

Ms. Hoang Thi Hieu, the first kindergarten teacher in Con Co Island District, shared her feelings: "I feel happy and proud to have a new, spacious, and modern school. The district also provides teachers with housing in the youth village. However, she expressed concern: Currently, the number of kindergarten teachers is sufficient, but there are no primary school teachers. Therefore, next year when the children enter first grade, I don't know how their studies will be. In addition, the school lacks fences, roofs, teaching materials, and toys... I hope for more attention from relevant departments and agencies to support the development of education in Con Co Island District and to keep pace with other localities."

Having spent many years on the island, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Phong, Commander of the Con Co Island District Border Guard Station, shared: "Since the investment and construction, the parents of the children have felt more secure in developing the island's marine economy. Here, the military and the people treat each other like family, closely connected and helping each other regularly. Although we call them the people, they are a shock force ready to assist the border guards in the goal of firmly protecting our maritime sovereignty."

According to statistics, there are currently 9 households with 35 people in the area. To share the difficulties with the people, the border guards have adopted two children. At the beginning of the school year, the border guards help the two children have enough books, notebooks, clothes to go to school, organize Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, Teacher's Day events, etc.

Representatives from Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School receive gifts from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Manh Hung expressed his joy at attending the inauguration of this special school with the district leaders, teachers, residents, and students. He was deeply moved that since the school was destroyed by the storm, the teachers, parents, and students have overcome difficulties to continue teaching and learning in temporary classrooms.

Deputy Minister Pham Manh Hung said emotionally: "We know that in the past, after finishing preschool, young children had to leave their parents and go to the mainland to live with their grandparents, uncles, or aunts to continue their education in higher grades: primary and secondary school. I understand the anxiety, the worry, and the unease of parents who have to live far away from their children to stay and protect the sacred sea and islands of our Fatherland."

Therefore, the construction of Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School is both a responsibility and an expression of affection from the Ministry of Education and Training and the Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation for the resilient people who brave the seas for the peace of the Fatherland.

This school will no longer be limited to preschool education as before, but will include classrooms at the primary school level, staff housing for teachers, a canteen for students, and other supporting facilities that meet standards, with the goal of ensuring educational opportunities for all children from families living on Con Co Island.

"Therefore, we need to strive to grow alongside the children as they grow, so that parents and children become even more connected to our islands and seas. With unity and solidarity, we will continue to build schools in all coastal and island regions into 'Flowers of the Storm' that always bloom, as a symbol of the enduring strength of the nation's frontier and frontline," Deputy Minister Pham Manh Hung emphasized.

According to Nhan Dan Online