Hard work to raise 4 children to go to college

Upon hearing that Bui Cong Quan was admitted to the Air Force Academy, the people of Tuong Son commune (Anh Son - Nghe An) were very impressed with the couple Bui Cong Thanh (born in 1962) and Tran Thi Vinh (born in 1964). Because Quan is the fourth child of the couple to be admitted to university, while the family's income is entirely from rice and corn.

Last year, Bui Cong Quan was admitted to Vinh University of Technical Education (Nghe An) in the university entrance exam, but because his family's circumstances were too difficult, he did not complete the admission procedures and asked his parents to continue studying for the exam so that he could take the entrance exam for military schools next year. Because before Quan, all three older sisters were studying at universities, the cost was very expensive, so he was determined to take the entrance exam for a military school to reduce the burden of worries for the whole family. After a year of studying for the exam and helping his parents with farm work, this year, Quan was admitted to the Aeronautical Engineering major of the Air Force Academy with a score of 21 (the standard score is 17.5).

Mr. Thanh and Ms. Vinh have four children. The eldest daughter, Bui Ngoc Thuy (born in 1985), graduated from the Faculty of Literature Pedagogy of Vinh University and is currently working in a southern province. The second daughter, Bui Thuan Anh (born in 1986), graduated with honors in Law from Hue University of Sciences and was retained by the school as a lecturer. Currently, Anh is continuing her studies for a Master's degree. Bui Ngoc Sang (born in 1990), the third daughter, is a senior student at the National Academy of Public Administration (Hanoi).

Having 4 children at a relatively close distance, raising and educating them is not a simple matter for the couple's family. All family expenses depend on a few acres of rice fields and alluvial land contracted by the State. The older the children are and the higher their education level, the greater the economic pressure on the family. When their eldest daughter entered university, the couple had to apply to the local government to lease several acres of land along the Lam River to grow crops and grass to feed cows. Only relying on a few acres of rice fields is not enough to raise and educate their children, so the couple had to find ways to borrow from relatives. But in return, their children are all obedient, good at studying and know how to save money.

"My biggest wish is for my children to grow up, have stable jobs and live a useful life for society. That way, no matter how hard it is, we will always be satisfied..." Mr. Thanh shared.

Tuong Anh