"Nursery" at the foot of Gam mountain
"Every shore echoes with the waves of the Dinh River / Every distant land dreams of Gam Mountain."...There was a former student of Yen Thanh 2 High School, who had established himself and built a career far away, and reminisced about his hometown and old school with such emotional verses. Perhaps this is also the voice of many children of the rice-growing region, who were born, raised, and nurtured under the roof of this school.
Growing up through hardship
In the mid-1960s, the resistance war against the American imperialists was raging fiercely. However, educational development remained a top priority, especially in rural areas, in order to cultivate the next generation to serve the resistance and build the country. At that time, the entire Yen Thanh district had only one high school, located in Hoa Thanh commune.
Students in remote areas face many difficulties and dangers in traveling. The situation became even more serious when the war of destruction escalated, attacking the vital Highway 538, directly threatening the safety of teachers and students.
Faced with this urgent need, the Nghe An Department of Education and Yen Thanh district made a historic decision: to establish a new educational institution, separated from Yen Thanh High School.
In September 1965, Yen Thanh 2 High School was officially established, located in Bac Son hamlet, formerly Bac Thanh commune.
With the opening drumbeat of the 1965 school year, the school welcomed six classes of students and a team of teachers transferred from School No. 1. The mission of nurturing future generations, with the determination of "plow in one hand, gun in the other, pen in the other," thus began in this land at the foot of Mount Gam.
Teachers and students were determined to overcome difficulties and achieve good teaching results right from the early years of the school's establishment. As proof of this, in the first academic year (1965-1966), the school had 87 students who met the standards to study abroad.
And during the war, despite having to evacuate to avoid bombs and bullets, teachers and students continued to teach while building classrooms; even though the classrooms were made of bamboo and the desks and chairs were rudimentary, amidst the hardships, the light of knowledge still shone brightly, igniting hope for an entire poor rural area. The tradition of valuing education has deeply permeated every home and the mindset of the people in this rice-growing region.
I absorbed not only knowledge and intellect but also the ethics and style of my teachers. As Prime Minister Pham Van Dong rightly pointed out.
At that time, it was said: "Schools are schools, classes are classes, teachers are teachers, and students are students."Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen The Ky - Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, former student of Yen Thanh 2 High School
"Schools are schools, classes are classes, teachers are teachers, and students are students." This is the guiding principle and the overarching goal that Yen Thanh 2 High School has always upheld throughout its mission of educating future generations. Thanks to this goal, as the country entered peacetime, amidst the echoes of victory, the flame of learning among the teachers and students of Yen Thanh 2 High School continued to burn brightly.
However, the path to continuing that tradition was far from smooth. In the period following peace and national reunification, the school continued to experience ups and downs, with numerous difficulties. The most challenging period was the 1987-1988 school year, when the school faced the risk of dissolution. But through the spirit of unity and the resolute struggle of teachers, students, and parents, the school was saved and revived, affirming the enduring vitality of a school embodying the ideal of "a school that truly thrives."
Having endured the difficult period of the centrally-subsidized economy and the challenging years of reform, Yen Thanh 2 High School has always upheld the spirit of "Overcoming difficulties to teach well and learn well." This is evidenced by the success of countless generations of students who have grown up and "spread their wings" from this school. Among them are professors, doctors, engineers, journalists, officers, military generals, successful entrepreneurs... - people who carry in their hearts the pride of "I am a student of Yen Thanh 2."
Keep moving forward
Drawing inspiration from the perseverance and dedication of previous generations, as we enter the new millennium, Yen Thanh 2 High School is ready to embark on a comprehensive reform phase, determined to create a new image for itself.
The school's facilities are well-invested and modern; new multi-story buildings rise at the foot of Mount Gam, a testament to the school's enduring journey over six decades; the infrastructure serving teaching and learning, such as the library and laboratories, has been completed; and alongside this is the rejuvenation and standardization of the teaching staff – teachers who always maintain their passion, love for their profession, and a constant pursuit of learning and creativity.
The school has consistently been recognized by the Department of Education and Training as an "Outstanding Labor Collective". Years of reform have brought Yen Thanh 2 School the highest honors: the Third and Second Class Labor Orders, and a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister. Notably, just before its 60th anniversary, the school was again honored to receive the Third Class Labor Order, affirming its solid position as a shining example of education in Nghe An province.
To improve the overall quality of education, the school has implemented appropriate measures to effectively fulfill its tasks for each period and each academic year. In particular, in recent years, the school has actively participated in campaigns such as "Building a friendly school environment and promoting active student participation," and "Every teacher is a role model in ethics, self-learning, and creativity"...
These major campaigns and movements have had a truly profound impact on the overall quality of education at Yen Thanh 2 High School.
Thanks to these tireless efforts, the quality of education has been increasingly affirmed, yielding brilliant results. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school ranked 5th in the province in the high school graduation exam; in the 2025-2026 school year, Yen Thanh 2 High School once again affirmed its position: ranking 8th in the provincial excellent student selection exam.
Beyond academic achievements and book knowledge, Yen Thanh 2 School has truly become a place where culture, knowledge, and character are fully embodied. This is because moral education is always considered the foundation of nurturing future generations.
This nurturing not only comes from the classroom but also extends through volunteer activities, creating a healthy, friendly, and humane school environment. The teachers have sown the seeds of compassion; the motto "All for our beloved students" has been translated into action.
Sixty years – a period during which the teachers and students of Yen Thanh 2 High School have overcome countless hardships and challenges. However, whether amidst the flames of war or the challenging years of reform, the flame of the tradition of teaching and learning has never ceased or been broken.
It is this tireless continuity across generations that has forged a proud tradition. A tradition of pride in overcoming countless hardships to maintain the quality of the teaching staff and training, making a worthy contribution to nurturing human resources for Nghe An province and the country. And above all, a tradition of pride in the fact that teachers and students alike continue to keep alive the flame of passion for their profession and unwavering faith in the future.
Under the roof of this school, generations of students have boarded the boats of knowledge, guided by dedicated and devoted "boatmen" and "seed planters."
Therefore, in the glorious history of Yen Thanh 2 High School, the list of generations of teachers and students who have contributed to the country continues to grow longer. A high school with 128 students, one teacher who is a martyr; two Heroes of the People's Armed Forces; and many politicians, scientists, and generals who are serving the Fatherland day and night…
Or, more simply, from this nursery, tens of thousands of citizens have grown up, lived, studied, and worked in all corners of the country… But among them, generations of students, past and present, will always remember and look towards Yen Thanh 2 School with gratitude, because:"No matter where we spread our wings, the gratitude to our teachers, the loyalty to our friends, and the love we shared will never fade."
