The Van village school (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Established in 1996, Ia Ly town’s primary school now has 40 teachers and staff and 660 students. The Van village school, part of the primary school, has 144 students, divided into 5 classes from grade 1 to grade 5. All the students are Jrai ethnic children.

Do Manh Dung, principal of Ia Ly town’s primary school, said that many of the students come from poor or near-poor families and receive monthly educational support from the government. Ethnic minority students are also given free health insurance cards.

“Together with the school’s student union, we regularly organize drives to collect books, clothing, and shoes for those in need. In addition, IT is integrated into our teaching methods,” Dung added.

Given that most of the students are from the Jrai ethnic group and Vietnamese is their second language, the Van village school has a number of Jrai teachers who speak both Vietnamese and Jrai to help the them understand the lessons.

Teacher Ro Cham Vuh told VOV that out of the five classes at the school, four are taught by Jrai teachers.

“We follow the national curriculum but we also make sure the students stay connected to their own culture, traditions, and customs," he said.

(Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Ro Chom Yen, a veteran teacher at the Van village school, said, "When teaching, I speak both Vietnamese and Jrai so the students can follow along more easily. I give extra help to those who struggle, like tutoring or calling them to the board more often so they can get more practice. My class has 28 students. All of them are Jrai ethnic children."

Ro Cham Thoanh, a grade 5 student, recalled, “At school I study a lot of subjects, but I like math the best. I also like English and computer science. I try to do well in class because I want to be helpful to others. I hope to get a good job someday so I can give back to my hometown.”

The Van village school attaches great importance to extracurricular activities. Performances of gong playing, xoang dancing, and bamboo pole dancing are staged during holidays and festivals.

A class at the Van village school (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Ia Ly town’s primary school has earned the title "Outstanding Labor Collective" at the provincial level. Several of its teachers have received “Outstanding Teacher” honors at the district and provincial level.

In the 2022–2023 academic year, its students won six awards at the provincial Youth Informatics Contest. These achievements are a testament to the dedication of the teachers and students, especially those at the remote Van village school.