With their love for the profession, perseverance, and appropriate teaching methods, the teachers of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School have become a solid foundation, helping many generations of ethnic minority students achieve impressive results in national and international examinations.
Content: Thanh Quynh - Technical: Diep Thanh
With their love for the profession, perseverance, and appropriate teaching methods, the teachers of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School have become a solid foundation, helping many generations of ethnic minority students achieve impressive results in national and international examinations.
To gain a better understanding of effective teaching methods and ways to support students, reporters from Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television had a conversation with Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa - Principal of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School.
PV:In recent years, many ethnic minority students at the school have not only achieved good results in provincial and national exams but have also excelled in international competitions. According to you, what are the effective methods that the school has implemented to support these students in proving themselves on the international stage?
Leaders of Nghe An province, along with students and teachers of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School, at the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year. Photo: Pham Bang
Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa:Over the years, the students ofNghe An Ethnic Boarding High SchoolMany remarkable achievements have been recorded. Not only have they won top prizes in provincial and national student competitions, but they have also boldly stepped onto the international intellectual stage and achieved very encouraging results. In the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years, at the TIMO International Mathematics Olympiad, they brought home 11 Silver Medals, 1 Bronze Medal, and 3 Honorable Mentions.
At the INTARG International Invention and Innovation Competition in Poland, students from the school won 1 Gold Medal and 1 Special Prize. At the WICO World Invention and Innovation Olympiad in South Korea, they continued to impress with 3 Gold Medals and 3 Special Prizes. Many students also strived to obtain IELTS certificates and international IT certifications, and some even excelled by winning full scholarships from the British University Vietnam.
Teachers and students from Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School discuss issues related to learning and maintaining the effectiveness of school clubs. Photo: Thanh Quynh
To achieve these results, we always have to carefully plan our strategies. In reality, ethnic minority students have limited starting points, especially in English and access to science and technology. Therefore, the school persistently supports them and creates unique approaches to help them develop their potential. Besides teaching subjects according to the curriculum, we particularly focus on tutoring them in Mathematics in English, giving them more opportunities to participate in international competitions like TIMO. In addition to regular classes, teachers organize evening tutoring sessions, especially for 12th-grade students. During the summer, teachers still dedicate time to organizing free online classes to support them.
For students with weaker academic abilities, teachers patiently dedicate extra time and provide one-on-one tutoring, fostering a close relationship while helping them improve daily. The results of this persistent effort have been demonstrated by many students who, despite having humble beginnings, have risen strongly. A prime example is Lo Thi Bay (born in 2007), an O Du ethnic minority student from Na Hy village, Nhon Mai commune, who, through tireless effort, successfully passed the entrance exam to the Early Childhood Education Department at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2 with 27.23 points. She is one of the few O Du students to achieve such a high score.
In addition, we have established English clubs in schools, organized themed events and experiential activities to help students improve their communication skills. From the beginning of the course, the school conducts assessments and categorizes students by level to form intensive classes. As a result, many students have achieved IELTS scores of 7.0 - 7.5.
Photo: Thanh Quynh
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I believe that every student, regardless of their starting point, will have the strength to overcome any challenge if they receive love, care, and proper guidance.
Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa
In addition to teaching academics, teachers always encourage students to transform knowledge into practical products through science and technology projects. At the same time, the school proactively seeks social resources, appealing to businesses and sponsors to create opportunities for students to participate in many domestic and international competitions.
And perhaps the most important factor is the warm and friendly boarding school environment. Here, teachers are not only instructors but also like second parents, always there to encourage and care for them, from meals and sleep to evening study habits. The children grow up in this embrace, equipped with knowledge and nurtured with confidence and determination.
All of these factors have empowered our students, enabling them to excel not only academically but also to be confident, capable, and ready to conquer new heights.
Many students from ethnic minority groups with difficult circumstances have strived to overcome challenges and achieved impressive results. Photo: Thanh Quynh
PV: During your time at the school, you must have witnessed many touching stories of students' perseverance. What meaningful message do these stories convey for education today?
Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa:It's true that throughout my years at the school, I've witnessed many touching stories. These stories not only motivate students but also inspire teachers to continue their dedication and commitment to their careers.
Among the many stories of students' perseverance in overcoming difficulties, I remember most vividly Lang Thi Ai My (born in 2002) from Ke Noc village, Mau Thach commune. Coming from a poor family where her parents toiled year-round and basic necessities like food and clothing were scarce, Ai My always strived to excel in her studies and maintained high academic performance throughout her three years at school. Thanks to this, she passed the entrance exam to the University of Prosecution (Hanoi) with an impressive score. With support from her teachers and benefactors to overcome material hardships, she maintained her determination to study and successfully graduated from university. Now, Ai My has a stable job in Ho Chi Minh City, building a good and independent life for herself.
Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa – Principal of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School – chats with and visits students in their dormitory rooms on the school grounds. Photo: Thanh Quynh
It wasn't just Ai My; many other students from the school also left a deep impression on me. Some were orphans, some came from impoverished families where it seemed they would have to drop out of school. However, through their own determination and aspirations, they persevered and successfully passed the entrance exams to prestigious universities. Behind each acceptance letter lies a long and arduous journey, where their willpower to overcome adversity transformed challenges into stepping stones to achieve their dreams.
These stories conveyed a profoundly meaningful message: Education is not just about teaching literacy, but also about igniting the flame of dreams and self-confidence in each student. We believe that every student, regardless of their background, will have the strength to overcome any challenge if they receive love, care, and proper guidance.
PV: We understand that the school not only supports students throughout their high school years but also continues to connect with businesses and philanthropists to assist them after graduation, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing higher education. Could you share more details about this meaningful activity?
Students from Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School have achieved many high results in national and international competitions. Photo: Provided by the school.
Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa:This is something we have always been passionate about and have persistently pursued for many years. For us, accompanying our students doesn't stop at the gates of high school, but continues throughout their journey of growth and maturity.
In reality, many students, even after being accepted into university, still face numerous difficulties when studying and living in large cities. Therefore, the school proactively seeks support from businesses, philanthropists, and compassionate individuals to provide additional motivation for these students.
To date, more than 40 former students of the school have received regular support from the business community and philanthropists. Specifically during the 2025 entrance exam, immediately after the results were released, we received feedback from students about the difficulties they faced while preparing for enrollment. We promptly reviewed and compiled a list of 6 cases requiring urgent support to quickly connect them with resources and help them confidently embark on their university journey.
Students from Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School participate in an experiential activity at Cuc Phuong National Park - themed "Nature Conservation". Photo: Provided by the school.
What is truly valuable is that this support extends beyond material assistance to include emotional support, helping the students feel they are not alone and giving them more confidence and strength to overcome challenges. For us, this is a long-term journey and will certainly continue, so that every student, wherever they are, can feel the warm support from their alma mater.
PV: Looking ahead, what goals, in your opinion, will the school set to further improve the quality of education and effectively support ethnic minority students, and what methods will it employ to achieve those goals?
Distinguished Teacher Nguyen Thi Kieu Hoa:This is something that the school administration and teachers are always concerned about. We look to the future with much hope, but we are also aware of the challenges that need to be overcome.
In addition to regular classes, teachers organize evening tutoring sessions, especially for 12th-grade students and those with weak academic foundations. They also expand opportunities for interaction with foreign teachers to provide students with essential skills for learning a foreign language. (Photo: Provided by the school)
Our ultimate goal is to improve the overall quality of our students, helping them not only to have a solid foundation of knowledge but also the skills to confidently integrate into society. We hope that they will return to their hometowns in the future and contribute to the development of their communities.
To achieve this, we will focus on three main things. First, innovating teaching and learning methods. We will continuously update modern teaching methods and encourage students to explore and be creative on their own. At the same time, the school will also place special emphasis on career guidance from the beginning, helping students choose subject combinations that suit their abilities and interests. This ensures that students have a clear direction from their time in school. Second, expanding support resources. We will continue to connect with businesses and philanthropists to seek scholarships and financial support for students.pupilThey come from disadvantaged backgrounds. And third, and most importantly, we aim to create a boarding environment that is both disciplined and warm. Since they live far from home, their teachers are their second family. We will continue to care for them in every aspect, from meals and sleep to self-study and daily life. At the same time, we will organize more activities to help them develop life skills and integration skills such as English, computer skills, cultural activities, arts, and sports... so that they can always be proud of their ethnic identity.
Teachers and students of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School strive to preserve and promote the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic minority communities. Photo: Thanh Quynh - Dinh Huy
We believe that, with the efforts of both teachers and students, and the support of the community, the path ahead for the students will be brighter, and the school will continue to be a place that ignites dreams for generations of students in the mountainous region of Nghe An.
Interviewer: Thank you for the conversation!
Nghe An Ethnic Boarding High School currently has 735 students from ethnic minority communities. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's average high school graduation score ranked 4th in the province; the university admission rate in recent years has consistently been above 90%, with many students admitted to prestigious universities among the top in the higher education system.
The school has had the honor of receiving the Third-Class Labor Medal twice (1994, 2023) from the President of Vietnam, the Second-Class Labor Medal (1999) and the First-Class Labor Medal (2004), and the Third-Class Labor Medal in 2024.
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