The teacher quietly sows the seeds of knowledge in a place where "heaven is high and earth is low."
(Baonghean.vn) - Pha Noi village, Dooc May commune, is a remote and rugged village in the border district of Ky Son. In this remote area, teacher Nguyen Trong Toan is quietly sowing the seeds of knowledge and building dreams for his Mong ethnic minority students.
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Dooc May is a border commune in Ky Son district, bordering Laos, and is considered one of the most densely populated areas for the Hmong community. It is also known as a place of "high skies and lowlands," with a complex climate: muddy rainy seasons, dry summers, and freezing winters, with snowfall in many years. (Photo: Hoai Thu) |
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| The road to Dooc May commune is extremely difficult and arduous. The road is muddy, with many steep slopes, making it almost impossible to walk on foot during rainy days. Yet, for over 20 years, teacher Nguyen Trong Toan has been diligently nurturing literacy in this area. Born in 1979, Mr. Nguyen Trong Toan had worked for many years in villages in the border commune of Dooc May before moving to Pha Noi village in 2020. (Photo: Duc Anh) |
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The Pha Noi village school has only one teacher – Mr. Toan. Therefore, he has to do everything, from cleaning and tidying the classroom to ringing the school bell… Every day, Mr. Toan wakes up early to wipe down desks and chairs and sweep the classroom to welcome the students. His joy is simply hoping that all the children come to school regularly, that none of them get sick or drop out, so that the classroom is always filled with laughter. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| With genuine love for his young students, Mr. Toan has quietly instilled in them a passion for learning and a love for coming to school every day. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| Because the first grade only had 6 students and the second grade only had 4, Mr. Toan had to combine the two classes into one combined class. Teaching both classes simultaneously presented more challenges, as he had to ensure that the lessons in each class were always coherent and that the students remained engaged and attentive. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| The village of Phà Nọi has no electricity, so the children's schooling depends on the weather. On foggy mornings with weak sunlight, they have to start school late. Photo: Đức Anh |
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| To teach the students here, besides dedication and hard work, Mr. Toan also has to be close to them and understand each student's personality. In each lesson, he pours his love and responsibility into it, hoping that the students will continue to improve in their studies. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| The Hmong students listen attentively to Mr. Toan's lecture. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| Outside of class hours, the teacher and students work together to tend the vegetable garden. This is also an activity that Mr. Toan wants to help his students develop life skills. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| Living in a remote and isolated place, Mr. Toan has to do everything himself, from cooking to cleaning the house and classroom. Mr. Toan shared: "Being close to and taking care of the children all day keeps me busy. When I first came here, I missed home a lot, but now I'm used to it. I feel sorry for the students in this remote area who lack many things, and every day I become more attached to and 'love' the difficulties and hardships here. Mr. Toan's daily life is very simple; he wakes up early to cook rice for the whole day, and eats whatever food is available, nothing fancy." (Photo: Duc Anh) |
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| With no electricity at night, Mr. Toan takes advantage of his lunch break to prepare his lessons for the next day. He knows life here is still difficult and challenging, but with his love for children, Mr. Nguyen Trong Toan tirelessly works day and night to nurture their literacy. In his work, Mr. Nguyen Trong Toan always upholds his responsibilities and is a shining example for his colleagues to follow. Photo: Duc Anh |
