Residents of the 'isolated' commune contribute labor and materials to build housing for teachers.

Huu Khuong is not only the most disadvantaged and isolated commune in the mountainous Tuong Duong district, but also the most difficult and isolated village in Nghe An province. The lives of the people here are still very difficult. Huu Khuong commune is home to three ethnic groups: Thai, Khmu, and Mong. It is a locality with a dense network of streams and ravines, a fragmented and scattered terrain, many small settlements, and poorly accessible transportation. In particular, the only way to get from the district center to Huu Khuong commune is by motorboat, unless you want to travel to Muong Xen town (Ky Son district), passing through Pha Danh, Huoi Tu, and My Ly in Ky Son district, then following the Western Nghe An road to Mai Son and Nhon Mai communes before reaching Huu Khuong.

This has significantly impacted teachers' commutes and teaching activities in the area. As a result, teachers from other localities who come to teach literacy to the children of ethnic minorities in Huu Khuong commune have to stay at the school and often only get to go home to their families on weekends.

Twelve parents from villages in Huu Khuong commune participated in helping the school build housing for teachers. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In previous school years, teachers at Huu Khuong Ethnic Boarding Primary School had to utilize spare classrooms, partitioning them to create living quarters. In the 2022-2023 school year, these classrooms were repurposed for computer classes, leaving the teachers without housing. Faced with this situation, the school had to mobilize parents to contribute materials and labor to build temporary housing for the teachers.

The building materials for the house were all contributed by the parents. Photo: Dinh Tuan

It is known that when the initiative was launched to encourage parents to join hands with the school in building temporary housing for teachers, all parents enthusiastically contributed their labor and materials. Not only parents living nearby, but also parents from remote villages far from the commune center such as Chà Lâng, Tủng Hốc, Huồi Pủng... did not hesitate to cross streams and trek through forests to help teachers build houses.

Huoi Pung village is the most isolated village in Huu Khuong commune. It takes nearly an hour by boat from the commune center, followed by another 45-minute walk. Furthermore, the village has no electricity or telephone signal. Despite these difficulties and isolation, when Mr. Vi Van Dinh and other parents in the village whose children attend the school learned that the school was planning to build housing for teachers, they were very enthusiastic.Huu Khuong Ethnic Boarding Primary SchoolThey crossed streams and trekked through forests to get to school, working alongside parents to build temporary housing for the teachers.

Everyone had their own task, and they all worked very diligently. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Mr. Vi Van Dinh said: "We don't have money to contribute, but we are willing to contribute our labor and materials to build temporary housing for teachers. We believe this is something that should be done as soon as possible so that teachers can have a stable place to live. Therefore, all the parents are very enthusiastic in their work. Some cut bamboo, some leveled the ground, some chiseled... Everyone has a task, and everyone is very responsible in their work to complete the housing for the teachers as soon as possible. Although it is hard work, we all feel very happy and excited because we have contributed our efforts to help the school and the teachers, and this is also a gift that we parents are giving to the teachers on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day."

After six days of hard work, the temporary six-room house, roofed with palm leaves and walls made of bamboo and reeds, was completed. This house will be the residence for 11 teachers whose homes are far from the school.

Not only teachers but also students at Huu Khuong Ethnic Boarding Primary School are having to live in makeshift housing. Photo: Dinh Tuan

Mr. Le Tuyen Huan, Principal of Huu Khuong Ethnic Boarding Primary School, shared: "The school is located in an area facing many difficulties, therefore, the facilities and infrastructure are still lacking. The teachers' and boarding students' living quarters, dining hall, kitchen, and restrooms are all makeshift. Every year, parents contribute labor and bamboo to help the school repair or renovate. The school greatly appreciates the contributions of the parents. However, this is only a temporary solution. We hope that relevant departments and philanthropists will provide financial support so that the teachers and students can have safer living and resting places. This will contribute to improving the quality of teaching and learning at the school."