Across schools, from the valley floors to upland villages, both modern and traditional sports are thriving: volleyball, soft volleyball, badminton, basketball, pickleball, and sport dance, among others. These activities enrich school life and help students and teachers build stamina, coordination skills, confidence, and discipline. By diversifying sports offerings, schools enable each participant to find an activity suited to their physical abilities and interests, helping them maintain sustainable exercise habits.

Moving from general movements to structured programs, school-based sports in the province are entering a new phase, more professional, more systematic. Many schools have invested in training grounds and equipment; organized internal sports tournaments; maintained extracurricular PE sessions; and established volleyball, basketball, and badminton clubs to give students regular opportunities to train. Afternoon scenes of crowded schoolyards filled with cheers, groups of teachers practicing after class, and regular sports competitions have become familiar sights.

As an active PES participant, Bùi Huyền Trang from Điện Biên Đông Secondary School shared: “I often play volleyball and pickleball after long, stressful working hours. Sports really help me release pressure, stay healthy, and keep a fresh mindset. It also strengthens bonds with colleagues and contributes to better performance in my professional duties.”

The 8th Sports Festival of the Điện Biên province education and training sector is a testament to how widely and deeply school sports have developed. The event drew nearly 4,000 athletes competing in 13 disciplines. More than just a playground, the festival provided opportunities for teachers and students across the province to meet, learn from one another, strengthen solidarity, and spread the spirit of physical training. Hoàng Tuyết Ban, Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training, emphasized: “Sports help build physical fitness and foster mental resilience and character among staff, teachers, and students. Whether it’s the Sports Festival or any school-based sporting activity, all carry profound educational meaning and help build an active, positive, and holistic school environment.”

From phase I, which gathered nearly 2,500 athletes across six disciplines, to phase II, which saw 1,400 athletes competing in table tennis, chess, Chinese chess, pickleball, and sport dance, the entire festival created an energetic atmosphere and strong momentum across the sector. Impressive achievements by units such as the provincial Ethnic Boarding High School, Mường Ảng Ethnic Boarding High School, Điện Biên Phủ ward, and Thanh Nưa commune reflect their commitment and persistent effort.

Having practiced table tennis for many years, Nguyễn Hạnh Nguyên, a student at Lê Quý Đôn High School for the Gifted sees the sport as an effective way to stay healthy after long hours of study. “I practice every day to keep my reflexes sharp and maintain a relaxed mind”, she said. “At the Sports Festival, I hope to compete with stronger athletes to learn new techniques, stay calm under pressure, and improve my competitive mindset. I want to grow after every match, win or lose.”

The sports movement within Điện Biên’s education sector is clearly expanding, wide-reaching, enduring, and impactful. Beyond creating a healthy training environment, it inspires a lifestyle of wellness and positivity, helping shape a generation of well-rounded students and dynamic, active teachers. Its vitality comes from many sources: the desire for better health, the need to release stress after work or study, and students’ drive to challenge themselves. Above all, it comes from the persistence evident every afternoon on school training grounds, from the sector’s strategic investments, and from strong community support.

The sector’s Sports Festival serves as a necessary catalyst - a celebratory event that strengthens unity and showcases achievements. The flame of sports continues to burn brightly, nurtured daily, becoming an essential part of life in every school. With this momentum, schools from lowland to highland areas will nurture a future generation that is physically strong and mentally resilient.