The determination of a Mong student who went to school with his hands for 5 consecutive years

The road from Mua Ba Tinh’s house, a 5th grader at Na Ngoi 2 Primary School (Ky Son District) to class is not too far, but it is an almost vertical slope. Sometimes, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a teacher at the school, drives her car to visit her family and is still terrified when the car goes up the slope as if it is about to flip over. However, regardless of sunny or rainy days, except when she is sick, Mua Ba Tinh has never missed a single day of school.

Ba Tenh's 5 years of going to school with his hands. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

Tinh was born into a very poor family in the border region of Nghe An. Tinh's parents, Mr. Mua Va Re and Mrs. Xong Y Xia (Phu Kha 2 village, Na Ngoi commune, Ky Son) worked hard all year round on the fields but still could not provide enough food for their 5 children. The family's hardship became even more difficult when, at school age, Mua Ba Tinh fell seriously ill and had a high fever. After that illness, his legs were so cramped that he could not walk.

Since then, Tinh had to learn to walk with his two hands. His dream of going to school like his peers seemed to have been extinguished. Every day, watching his friends go to school, Tinh felt infinitely sad; the desire to run around in the schoolyard kept urging him.

For five consecutive years, Tinh has always been a good student and often helps his classmates study. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

Four years later, Mua Ba Tinh insisted on asking his parents to let him go to school. Although they were very worried about him, seeing his desire to learn to change his life, his parents agreed.

Being able to go to school, Tếnh was extremely happy. Seeing the student dragging himself to class with his hands, many people thought that he would probably only be able to follow for a while and then drop out. Because in the midst of the rugged wilderness, harsh climate, difficult family conditions, and limited awareness of people about studying, ordinary students still had to go one day and not the next, even though teachers encouraged and coaxed them, let alone someone like him...

However, during class, seeing him always trying to listen to the teacher, take notes and do his homework carefully, his friends and teachers were surprised. During the past four years of school, except for the days he had to take a sick leave, Tinh always went to school regularly. His academic performance was always good, his belongings and books were always kept clean, and his handwriting was neat.

For five consecutive years, Mua Ba Tinh has been an excellent student of the school. In competitions organized by the school, he always wins high prizes. Talking about his future plans, Tinh said: After finishing primary school, I will go to the city to learn car repair and then find a job so as not to become a burden on my family.

The neat, careful handwriting of a disabled Mong student. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, teacher of Mua Ba Tenh, shared: "Although disabled, he is always a shining example of determination and learning for his classmates to follow."