(VOVWORLD) - Many schoolchildren in highland and border villages must leave their families at a young age to study at boarding schools. In the absence of their parents, the children receive care, attention and love from teachers.
 At An Thang Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities in Pac Nam district, Bac Kan province (Photo: VOV) |
Over the past five years, Hoang Hong Tham and her fellow students at An Thang Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities in Pac Nam district, Bac Kan province, have received dedicated support from their teachers.
Tham joined the school in third grade, and since then, the teachers have provided her with three daily meals, instruction on tasks like folding blankets, and additional lesson reviews after class. Living far from family and relatives, Tham and her classmates consider the teachers their parents.
"At the school, teachers take good care of us. They understand and love us. When we’re sick, the teachers give us special care. They are like our parents," said Tham.
An Thang commune, far up a steep road, makes it difficult to ensure that the children get three nutritious meals a day. The school accommodates boarding students from grades 1 to 9, so the teachers face the complexity of dealing with students at different stages of mental and physical development.
For the younger students in grades 1 and 2, teachers must play the role of nurturing father or mother. For 8th and 9th graders, teachers must play the role of friend and mentor, sharing thoughts, offering support, and providing psychological guidance. In instances of illness or homesickness, teachers are there to provide care and encouragement.
Teacher Duong Thi Phuong said: "Children enroll in this boarding school from grade 1 to grade 2, and teachers have to stay by their side to comfort them and let them talk with their parents. Especially for the younger children, we offer guidance on practical tasks such as folding blankets, washing clothes, and using the restroom."
In addition to conducting two daytime classes, teachers also help students review lessons during the evening. A typical day for a teacher at the school begins before 6:00 a.m. and ends after 9:00 p.m. when the children go to bed.
Principal Ngo Van The said: "Our teachers take turns overseeing the students, and the entire duration of a child’s stay is meticulously scheduled. This includes specific times for attending class, waking up, practicing personal hygiene, engaging in sports, and participating in environmental activities. Teachers face considerable challenges as, in addition to classroom instruction, they play a parental role, offering support and guidance to the students. Fortunately, over the past two years, since transitioning to a boarding format, there have been no instances of students dropping out prematurely, and parents have shown great concern for their children's education."
The boarding school is a second home for students in An Thang highland commune, and the teachers are surrogate parents who help their dreams come true.