Wading through streams to carry children to school in Chà Lúm

(Baonghean.vn) - During the flood season, students and residents in the remote Yen Tinh commune, Tuong Duong district, frequently have to cross streams on makeshift bridges. Many parents have to carry their children across the streams to school.

For many years, most primary and preschool students in Chà Lúm village, Yên Tĩnh commune (Tương Dương district) have had to cross the Chà Hạ stream to get to school. The largest stream flowing through the village poses a constant danger to the young students in this Thái ethnic minority village.

The Chà Lúm village has 138 households living along both banks of the Chà Hạ stream, making transportation very difficult. Photo: Hữu Vi

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

The Chà Lúm village has 138 households living along both banks of the Chà Hạ stream. The village school is located on the right bank, where the population is smaller. "The number of students on the other side of the school is only about one-third of that on this side," Mr. Thông said.

The Chà Lúm village primary and kindergarten schools are located on the other side of the stream, meaning dozens of students on this side have to be carried across by adults to get to school. Photo: Đào Thọ

Born and raised in Chà Lúm village, Mr. Thông said that parents carrying their children across the stream to school has been going on for 20 years and nothing has changed. When going to class or needing to do something, adults have to carry children across the stream. Meanwhile, the Chà Hạ stream always poses a risk of flash floods and landslides.

"During a school year, teachers have to announce extended school closures at least once. Sometimes it can be up to two weeks," the head of Chà Lúm village added.

A temporary bridge across a stream was swept away by floods after Typhoon No. 2. Photo: Huu Vi

The lack of a bridge not only inconveniences students getting to school, but also leaves households on the other side of the stream almost completely isolated during major floods. “During the floods caused by Typhoon 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.

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

Mother carries child across stream. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Vi Van Khiem, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Tinh commune, said: Currently, the construction of a bridge over the stream in Cha Lum village is only in the medium-term construction plan until 2020 of Tuong Duong district. The details of how it will be built still depend on the district.

Yen Tinh is a flood-prone area in the mountainous district of Tuong Duong. The heavy rains and flash floods of 2009 claimed five lives. The floods in September 2016 swept away many houses and infrastructure, causing significant damage. Several schools in the area had to close for two weeks.

Huu Vi - Dao Tho