(VOVWORLD) - Teacher Ngan Van An of Tam Chung primary school in the border district of Muong Lat, Thanh Hoa province, cares deeply for the well-being of the local children. In 17 years in this remote area, An has earned the love and respect of students and parents with his dedication and compassion.
 Students at On school now have lunch at school thanks to An’s efforts. (Photo: VOV) |
When the school bell rings signaling break time, An and his colleagues start preparing lunch for the children.
After the third or fourth lesson, An quickly returns to the kitchen to finish the cooking and portion out meals for the students. When the children finish their meal, the teachers clean up, wash the dishes, and then eat their own quick lunch. When there’s no electricity, they have to cook with firewood, which is more demanding and leaves no time for a midday rest.
“When we first launched the project ‘Muong Lat Child-Rearing,’ we had difficulty obtaining cooking facilities, kitchenware, and infrastructure,” said An.
Previously, students at On school, a branch of Tam Chung primary school, attended only a half-day session because of the long distance between their homes and school. To improve the situation, An mobilized sponsors and, in the 2022-2023 school year, launched the “Muong Lat Child-Rearing” project.
96 students in 5 classes now can spend a full day at school, thanks to nutritious sponsored lunches. An said the teachers don’t mind the hard work of preparing meals for the children as long as it benefits the students.
“We teach the students to wash their hands, serve the food, and clean up. Since the ‘Muong Lat Child-Rearing’ project was launched, more children can get a nutritious meal at school,” said An.
An has spent 15 years in On village, the most remote and least developed border area in Muong Lat district. Parents hold him in high regard. Many even come to school to assist him at lunchtime.
“Seeing how hard the teachers work, we decided to come help them prepare the children’s meals,” Giang A Chia, a grandparent of two of the students, said.
 (Photo: VOV) |
An frequently travels several kilometers through the forest to visit the students’ homes and talk to their parents about their schoolwork. The progress his students make each day fuels his dedication to his work.
“Teacher An has devoted many years to the On satellite school. He is very active in community activities and always takes good care of his students. The villagers consider him a member of their family,” said Le Van Vien, the principal of Tam Chung primary school.
An has taught at the On satellite school longer than any other teacher. Many of his former students now attend provincial boarding schools. An has received numerous awards for his contributions to education.