Mountain students warm in the cold season

(Baonghean.vn)-'The teachers taught me to dress my children in many layers of clothes, to keep them warm when it's cold, not to let them drink cold water, and to keep the food I bring to class in a hot lunch box.'

These are the shares of Ms. Mua Y Sy, whose child is studying at Hop Thanh kindergarten, Xa Luong commune (Tuong Duong). Ms. Y Sy, as well as many Mong people in Hop Thanh village, also said that thanks to the teachers' guidance on how to protect against the cold and support with warm clothes, parents and children feel warm in the face of the first cold winds of the season.

When the temperature drops below 15oSchools are allowed to light fires for children to keep warm, under the supervision of teachers. Photo: May Huyen

Indeed, these days, when cold air waves continuously come, the mountainous district of Tuong Duong is immersed in fog and cold wind. In this situation, the Department of Education and Training and the district authorities at all levels have proactively deployed many solutions to prevent cold for students, to ensure their health, maintain their number of students and their attendance rate.

From afar, Hop Thanh Kindergarten, Xa Luong Commune, nestled on the mountainside, looks like a cozy house. If you don't hear the sounds coming from the classroom, few people would think it's a school. Due to the small number of children, the school organizes a combined class for 3 age groups: 3, 4, 5 years old. There are 53 children of Mong ethnic group studying here. During these days, due to the influence of the cold air, in the early morning the temperature drops below 15^oC.

The teacher prepares items to keep food warm for children in winter. Photo: May Huyen

With the unpredictable developments of winter in the highlands, right from the days of changing seasons, the school has proactively promoted to parents how to care for and keep children warm.

As for the two Luu Son schools belonging to Luu Kien Kindergarten, there are more than 33 children of Thai and Mong ethnic groups from Luu Son and Luu Phong villages (Luu Kien commune) studying. Although it is less than 30 kilometers from the district center, due to the ethnic group's habit of living in high altitudes, when winter comes, the weather is harsh, while life is still difficult. It is difficult to mobilize children to go to class, and keeping the class size in winter is even more difficult. Therefore, every winter, the school mobilizes benefactors to donate warm clothes and blankets for students. In addition, teachers are assigned to go to residential areas to guide parents to keep their children warm, especially on cold windy days with temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius.^oC.

Luu Kien kindergarten students sleep in warm blankets. Photo: May Huyen

Ms. Le Thi Nhan - Vice Principal of Luu Kien Kindergarten shared: "The school regularly monitors the weather to be proactive. When the temperature drops below 10^oC then let students stay home from school, 10-12 left^oC then lit a fire to keep warm. Propaganda for parents to dress warmly, wear slippers, put hats on children at home and when going to school, the school also boiled warm water to wash the children. In places with strong winds, the school closed and sealed it to keep warm. ”.

Tuong Duong district currently has nearly 15,000 students at all levels, of which up to 70% are studying at schools and remote locations in mountainous, remote and isolated areas. Many schools are nearly 2,000m above sea level. At this time, the district's Department of Education and Training has proactively strengthened measures to prevent cold for students, especially at more than 200 remote schools at preschool and primary levels, and boarding schools in the area. In addition to mobilizing resources inside and outside the district, the district's Department of Education and Party Committees and authorities at all levels have been calling on benefactors to donate warm clothes, socks, shoes, sandals and boots to schools in mountainous areas; directing a number of boarding schools to increase food and provisions to ensure nutrition for students.

To proactively protect children's health, Tuong Duong district directed the Department of Education and schools to improve children's nutrition. Photo: May Huyen

Mr. Kha Van Lap - Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of Tuong Duong district said: "We regularly send official dispatches to schools, especially boarding schools, to ensure nutrition and warm water for children. Schools and teachers also have the responsibility to disseminate knowledge to each student and parent during their activities at home, especially for preschool and primary school children."

May Huyen