Joy of the beginning of the new school year in the border area of ​​Na Ngoi

(Baonghean) - This fall, new things are really coming to the border commune of Na Ngoi (Ky Son). The practical attention of organizations and authorities brings hope for a new life to students living in boarding houses here.

The road from the center of Nam Can commune to Na Ngoi is still rocky and rocky but has become more pleasant. The road through Phu Kha village is no longer as muddy as in previous rainy seasons. On the route, construction units are leveling and repairing. This is a great joy for the people, students and teachers in the border highlands when entering the new school year. Our "iron horse" has also become more "pleasant", it does not jump on large and small rocks and lie dead in the mud like the previous times... I have been to this land many times but today is the first time I have come on the occasion of the new school year opening.

In the morning, the sound of the rooster crowing at three o'clock in the morning came from a house at the end of Tong Khu village, the cold was pouring in on the land with an altitude of over 1,500 meters above sea level. Even on summer days, when the sun had just set behind the mountains, the cold had already taken over the whole space until the fog cleared the next morning. On the mountain road leading to Na Ngoi Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, there were silhouettes of students in white shirts, berets and red scarves. Children from Ka Noi village, Tong Khu were coming to school. I left my "iron horse" in the house of the commune health station and joined the crowd of students. But it seemed that the children did not want to pay attention to me with the camera in hand. All were eager to get to school on time for the opening ceremony. The sound of shoe soles on the dirt road seemed to urge the quick steps to school.

It has been a long time since I sat in the same row with my students. It was an interesting experience that made me feel like I was reliving my school days nearly 20 years ago.

Provincial Youth Union officials give gifts to students of Na Ngoi Ethnic Boarding Secondary School (Ky Son).

In the row of 8th graders, there was a little girl who recognized me and said “hello, uncle”. It was Moong Thi May from Huoi Thum village. More than 2 years ago, I followed this teacher and student from the village to school. At that time, May was in 6th grade, accompanied by her older sister who was in 9th grade. During the 5 hours of trekking through the forest, Vy, May’s older sister, always insisted that she would be the first person in the village to “go to the district to study high school”. However, during a trip to Na Ngoi nearly a year later, I heard that Vy was married and about to become a mother. I looked at May and asked: Has anyone in the village entered 10th grade yet? “There are a few, uncle”, she quickly replied. Will May go to 10th grade? “Yes, uncle. There will soon be a road from the national highway to the village, so it will be closer to school.” I understand May’s joy because only those who have to walk 5 hours twice a week, climbing mountains and wading through streams in Huoi Thum to get to school, can understand how hard it is. Not only do they have to walk half a day to get to school, the students here also have to live in simple huts built by their families for their children to study. Living in temporary huts has become familiar for decades to students in border areas.

The opening ceremony took place quickly but meaningfully. The gifts from the organizations reached the children. The little girl Gia Y Giai, who is in grade 6 this year, had the opportunity to stand on stage and express her thoughts. After the ceremony, there was a tug of war between the 8th and 9th grade students. After the opening ceremony, the children dispersed along the trails in the village, most of them returning to the temporary huts next to the school. Up to 2/3 of the more than 440 students of Na Ngoi Secondary School came from distant villages such as Keo Bac, Xieng Xi, Tham Hon, Na Cang, Huoi Xai, Huoi Thum...

In the hut next to the school, Gia Y Xong from Huoi Xai village said that this year she is in 8th grade. Y Xong said that every Sunday afternoon she goes to school to be on time for class the next morning and returns home on the weekend. Each trip takes 4 to 5 hours. Thanks to the government's policy of supporting boarding students, the students stay in the hut, and the teachers cook and serve them three meals a day, so they have time to focus on studying. Before, after school, the students divided up the work, some carried water, some gathered firewood, some picked vegetables. Just worrying about meals was tiring, opening a book made her eyes close. Now, although she still doesn't have a boarding house, life and studying are somewhat less difficult. Talking about her dreams, Y Xong said that right now she only knows how to study, she hasn't decided what job she will do yet. It took Y Xong a long time to count, then he remembered that his family had 10 siblings, and that their financial situation was difficult, and he didn't know how many more grades he would have to continue studying. The oldest of his siblings had only finished 9th grade and then returned home to start a family.

Before saying goodbye to the students, I was told by Mr. Nguyen Cong Giang, Vice Principal of Na Ngoi Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, that within the next month, the boarding students will have a new place to live. A construction project consisting of 10 classrooms for children in remote areas is being urgently constructed. The project is invested in by a charity fund of a large economic group. Also this year, another block of classrooms will be built by another investor for teachers and students here. This is truly good news on the first day of the new school year in the border area.

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