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In late August, teachers from Nam Can Kindergarten, who are in charge of the Huoi Poc satellite school in Nam Can commune (Ky Son), had to rush across the mountains to get to their village to prepare for the new school year. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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Teachers working in remote areas are working hard to transport teaching materials and tools from the community cultural house to the school to rearrange. Because the classrooms are degraded, before the summer break, the teachers brought all the materials down here to deposit. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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Step innew school yearIn the school that is more than 15 years old, the teachers of Huoi Poc school could not hide their anxiety. The school was built of wood and had a corrugated iron roof since 2004. After more than 15 years of use, the school has seriously degraded. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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The base of the columns was hollowed out by termites. Some columns were almost completely eaten away by termites, leaving only a few thin pieces of wood holding them together. The wooden walls were also rotten. The partitions dividing the classrooms were peeling and infested with termites... Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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The ceiling is also riddled with holes. To block the wind and prevent mud from entering the classrooms, the school has reinforced and covered it, but with the current state of disrepair, this is only a temporary solution. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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"The new school year has just begun, but the classrooms have been almost completely eaten by termites, making it unsafe for students and teachers to teach and learn. Just one thunderstorm or strong wind will force teachers to let students take a day off. Teachers are worried, not knowing when the school will collapse," said Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Tram - Principal of Nam Can Kindergarten. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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In addition to the three-classroom building, Huoi Poc Kindergarten also has a wooden house for boarding students. However, this house is currently being used as a teacher's lounge, a kitchen, and a dining room... Along with the classroom building, this "multi-in-one" house is also deteriorating. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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Not only the two functional houses, the Huoi Poc school is located on a steep slope, completely isolated from the local people, and the source of domestic water must be brought from far away. “On rainy days, there is often no water due to landslides, or if there is water, it is muddy; on sunny days, there is sometimes water and sometimes not. Every time the teachers have to go to the village, they bring along plastic cans to get water for use,” said Ms. Lo Thi Thanh Hien, Head of the Huoi Poc school. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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“In early 2020, a charity organization came to survey and offered to sponsor 3 prefabricated classrooms, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and some other issues, it has been postponed,” said the Principal of Nam Can Kindergarten. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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Not only Huoi Poc School - Nam Can Kindergarten, the whole Ky Son district has 160 separate schools, most of which are degraded, of which at least 60 schools need to be repaired immediately," said Mr. Phan Van Thiet - Head of the Department of Education of Ky Son district. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
Talking with Prof. Dr. Thai Van Thanh - Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training, it is known: "Currently, the sector is mobilizing all resources, paying attention to investment to ensure facilities in the direction of solidification, synchronization, and gradual modernization. Nghe An Department of Education and Training signed a cooperation agreement with VOH Ho Chi Minh City to implement the Plan to eliminate all temporary school buildings at remote schools in Ky Son district in the period of 2019-2025. Up to now, Nam Can kindergarten, Na Ngoi 1 Primary School, Na Ngoi 2 Primary School have been deployed and completed with a total cost of over 3.1 billion VND, other schools are continuing to be deployed".