Nghe An: Buying a boat to teach in Ban Ve Lake

Ban Ca Moong and Xop Chao are two particularly difficult villages of Luong Minh commune (Tuong Duong) located on the banks of Ban Ve lake. Photo: Dao Tho

The sturdy iron boat was launched and put into use a few days ago by the teachers at the Ca Moong and Xop Chao hamlet schools (belonging to Luong Minh Primary School). With a total investment of 30 million VND, this is the first time in Tuong Duong district that teachers have been provided with boats to go to the hamlet to teach.

Xop Chao School. Photo: Dao Tho

The two schools of Ca Moong and Xop Chao are considered an “oasis” on the banks of the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir. To reach these schools, there are two ways: by road, you have to go through many mountains and streams, but landslides make it very difficult and dangerous; and by water, you start from the upstream wharf at the hydroelectric plant and it takes about 40 minutes.

Previously, every time they went to the village to teach, teachers here had to rent a boat to get around. Photo: Dao Tho

Most of the teachers here choose to go by boat to ensure safety. However, each time they travel, they often have to rent a private boat or go together in groups, which is very expensive. They usually have to spend 30-50 thousand VND/person for each trip, and 250-300 thousand VND to rent a boat.

Weekends are the time when teachers have to carry their backpacks down to the dock to wait for the boat to go home. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Principal of Luong Minh Primary School, said: We had this idea since the beginning of the school year but have only now been able to implement it. After receiving 15 million VND from the Provincial Education Union, we mobilized each staff and teacher to contribute an additional 200,000 VND each. The school will pay for the remaining amount.

"We hired workers to build the boat here, but the engine had to be bought all the way to Vinh city and brought up. In the near future, we will also have to buy more life jackets for teachers to ensure they are safer when traveling on the river," said Mr. Thanh.

The new boat was invested for teachers of two schools, Ca Moong and Xop Chao. Photo: Dao Tho

Having taught for many years in these two “oases”, the teachers here can all steer the boat themselves. Mr. Lo Van Tuan, a resident of Ban Ve Lake, has extensive experience on the water, so he was assigned to steer the boat.

“Now we can be proactive in our work without having to depend on other people’s boats. Since having our own boat, everyone is happy because they feel cared for and see it as a valuable common asset,” said teacher Vi Thi Van.