Aspirations of students in remote areas

Tim's Story

This year’s National High School Exam does not limit the number of candidates who can register for university. However, as a matter of course, the number of candidates who register is gradually dropping due to the fear of unemployment after graduation.

At Muong Qua High School (Con Cuong), this year the number of candidates registering for the university entrance exam can be counted on the fingers. Le Van Tim - a Dan Lai student is one of them. Tim is one of four Dan Lai students studying high school here.

In this year of grade 12, there is only one student, Tim. In previous years, many students dropped out of secondary school, and the school did not have enough students to enroll.

During his 3 years of high school, Tim (far left) was given favorable conditions to live in the school's public service area. Photo - My Ha

Tim’s house is in Co Phat village – Mon Son commune, a place still called “the end of the mountain and the end of the water”. Perhaps because of the difficult road, with only one waterway to get to school, most of Tim’s friends dropped out of school in 6th grade.

To pursue his studies, Tim had to “cross the river” every month, traveling by boat nearly 15 kilometers. When he was in junior high school, Tim lived in the school dormitory. In high school, the road was longer but there was no place to stay. Fearing that Tim would drop out of school, the school board reserved a place for him in the teachers’ housing area. Every day, after school, Tim cooked and took care of his own life.

Living in the school's dormitory for three years, Tim was loved by everyone for his independence, self-discipline, not being afraid of work and always enthusiastically helping teachers in daily life. In return, Tim was also considered by teachers as a child, as a younger brother in the family. Many teachers, as a habit, gave their delicious food to Tim. When going to town, buying a box of instant noodles for the family, they also bought another box for Tim to prevent hunger when staying up late to study. On the school's side, every year a portion of the teachers' scholarship fund is set aside to support this studious boy.

The review class for students taking the combined Science exam at Muong Qua High School has only 7 students and all of them registered for the university entrance exam. Photo - My Ha

Tim's efforts finally seemed to have paid off. Therefore, from a boy with average academic performance, Tim has tried every day and for the past two years, he has been an excellent student with a high final score. Believing in his efforts, at the end of grade 12, instead of choosing the easy solution of taking the graduation exam, Tim determined to study to register for admission to the Border Guard Academy.

Sharing about his wishes, Tim also said: I want to go to university because in my hometown no one has a chance to study properly...

"Stranger" at school

At Muong Qua High School, people like Tim are considered strange and rare. Therefore, Tim's dream is also the common dream of two students Vi Van Tung and La Thanh Son (Luc Da) are pursuing. Perhaps, while Tim chose the Border Guard Academy, Tung registered his wish to enter the Political Officer School and Son chose the Security Academy.

Talking about his reasons, Vi Van Tung confided: We have many wishes but mainly only register for Security and Military schools because this school is suitable for poor children, free tuition and no need to worry about unemployment after graduation. Determined to go to university, this year, Tung only registered for one wish and "if I fail the first year, I will retake the exam next year".

Tim, Son and Tung's Geography review time. All three have sympathy because of the same situation. Photo: My Ha

To keep up with the advanced program, Tim and Son studied their textbooks carefully and practiced the questions until they were “to pieces”. Worried about their students, even though it was summer break, the 12th grade teachers at Muong Qua High School still volunteered to stay at school to tutor students in the teachers’ dormitory.

Teacher Ngan Thi Bich Ngoc - a History teacher said: "Seeing students studying for university entrance exams reminds me of myself in the past. Back then, my whole Luc Da commune had only 5 students attending high school. It was hard work, but everyone was determined to study because they knew that this was the way to escape poverty and suffering."

Optimism and the desire to escape poverty are the driving forces for students in the highlands to strive. Photo: My Ha

After 17 years of working with students of Mon Son and Luc Da, teacher Ngan Thi Bich Ngoc is also very proud because thanks to the guidance of teachers, many students in the area have been admitted to prestigious universities such as Hanoi Medical University, Border Guard University, University of Economics, University of Technology and now they continue to become "inspiration" for students of the next generation.

Before the National High School Exam this year, Muong Qua High School also organized 2 mock exams and 2 year-end surveys. The signal was very positive when students who registered for university admission all had quite high mock exam results.

Principal Dang Van Bang added: Compared to many other areas, students in mountainous communes have more difficulties and disadvantages. However, it is these difficulties that motivate them to be determined, and give them the confidence to strive and grow.