Wading through streams carrying children to school in Cha Lum

(Baonghean.vn) - During flood season, students and residents in the remote Yen Tinh commune of Tuong Duong district often have to cross streams on temporary bridges. Many parents have to carry their children across the stream to get to class.

For many years, most of the primary and preschool students in Cha Lum village, Yen Tinh commune (Tuong Duong) have had to cross Cha Ha stream to get to class. The largest stream flowing through the village is a lurking danger for the young students in this Thai village.

Cha Lum village has 138 households living along both banks of Cha Ha stream, making it very difficult to travel. Photo: Huu Vi

Mr. Pay Van Thong, head of Cha Lum village, said that this school was established in 1997. Last school year, the village had 65 primary school students and 27 preschool children. The whole village has 7 classrooms.

Cha Lum village has 138 households living along both banks of Cha Ha stream. The village school is located on the right bank, where the population is less. "The number of students on the other side of the school is only one-third of that on this side," said Mr. Thong.

Cha Lum Village Primary School and Kindergarten are both located on the other side of the stream, forcing dozens of students on this side to have to be carried across by adults to get to school. Photo: Dao Tho

As someone who was born and raised in Cha Lum village, according to Mr. Thong, the practice of parents carrying their children across the stream to school has been going on for 20 years now and nothing has changed. When going to class or needing to do something, adults have to carry their children across the stream. Meanwhile, Cha Ha stream always has the potential risk of flash floods.

“During a school year, at least once, teachers have to inform students that they need to take a long break. Sometimes it can be up to 2 weeks,” added the head of Cha Lum village.

A temporary bridge across the stream was swept away by floodwaters after storm No. 2. Photo: Huu Vi

Not having a bridge not only makes it inconvenient for students to get to class, but households on the other side of the stream are almost completely isolated when there is a big flood. “During the flood caused by storm No. 4 last year (2016), households on the other side of the stream were isolated for a whole week. Many families had to go to Na Cang village, 1.5km away, to buy rice,” said Mr. Pay Van Thong.

Teacher Nguyen Van Hai - Principal of Yen Tinh 2 Primary School said: At the beginning of each school year, teachers and parents have to build a temporary bridge across the stream at Cha Lum village school. Rebuilding the temporary bridge several times a year is a very common thing at this school.

Mother carrying her child across the stream. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Vi Van Khiem - Chairman of Yen Tinh Commune People's Committee said: Currently, the construction of a bridge over the stream in Cha Lum village is only included in the medium-term construction plan until 2020 of Tuong Duong district. How the construction is carried out depends on the district.

Yen Tinh is the flood epicenter of the mountainous district of Tuong Duong. The rain and flash floods in 2009 killed 5 people. The floods in September 2016 swept away many houses and facilities, causing heavy damage. Some schools in the area had to close for 2 consecutive weeks.

Huu Vi - Dao Tho