The event was especially meaningful with the presence of Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and leaders of the Party and Government, a demonstration of the nation’s special attention to education and a spark of hope for ethnic communities living along the border.

The school is being built in Nậm Chim 1 village, Si Pa Phìn commune, with a total investment of VND 220 billion, funded by support from Hanoi and social contributions. Construction is scheduled for 2025-2026, with the goal of completion in time for the second semester of the 2025-2026 school year.

According to the design, the school will have 31 classrooms for more than 1,000 students, 15 for primary level and 16 for lower secondary, along with 14 subject-specific rooms, an education equipment room, a counseling room with support for students with disabilities, a library, a multi-purpose hall, and a cultural house. About 120 boarding rooms for students and 15 staff apartments for teachers will be built, as well as kitchens, restrooms, bathrooms, a football field, a swimming pool, and internal roads. The complex is envisioned as a model school that meets both learning and living needs for teachers and students in this borderland.

Speaking at the groundbreaking, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm stressed: “Education and training have always been defined by our Party as the top national policy, the foundation for rapid and sustainable development. Therefore, the construction of Si Pa Phìn Primary and Secondary School carries special significance. It is not just an educational project, but a symbol of solidarity and sharing between people in the lowlands and the highlands, between the capital city of Hanoi and heroic Điện Biên province.”

He urged the province to pay close attention to land clearance, coordinate closely with construction units to ensure progress, quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness, and emphasized the importance of selecting and training qualified, dedicated teachers so that when the school opens, it will truly become a second home for students. “We must strive to put the school into operation on time, so that when spring arrives with the new school year, children on the border will walk into spacious, well-equipped classrooms,” he said.

Si Pa Phìn is one of the most disadvantaged border communes in Điện Biên. Villages are scattered, and children often walk long distances, climb steep hills, and wade across streams to reach school. Educational infrastructure has been lacking, with too few classrooms, inadequate boarding facilities, and limited teaching equipment. In this context, the new school will not only meet urgent educational needs but also lay the foundation for building human resources in the future.

Vàng A Sình, Party cell secretary of Nậm Chim village, expressed his emotion: “All my life, I have never seen such a big and modern school built here. Soon, our children will no longer have to walk far, climb hills, and cross streams to study. Parents will feel more secure knowing that their children are learning and living in good conditions.”

Lò Văn Chơi, a respected villager of Tân Lập village, said: “This school is the most precious gift for the children of the highlands. With better learning conditions, they will have the opportunity to develop fully and realize their dreams. Si Pa Phìn will escape poverty and move toward sustainable development.”

The students themselves are eagerly waiting for the day they can enter the new school. Sixth grader Lò Thị Bảo Ngọc shared with sparkling eyes: “We are very excited to study in the new school. There will be beautiful classrooms, boarding areas, and besides academic lessons, we will also learn new skills and join activities like swimming, sports, music, and art. I will try my best to study well.”

After just one month since groundbreaking, the construction site has been buzzing with activity. More than 30 specialized machines have been leveling the land, power stations have been installed, and materials are continuously transported to the site. Hundreds of engineers and workers are working day and night despite the harsh rainy season conditions in the mountains.

The new Si Pa Phìn school will not be just a place of learning; it will become a symbol of trust and solidarity between people across the country and those living on the border. From here, generations of students will gain knowledge, nurture dreams, and confidently step into the wider world. The image of General Secretary Tô Lâm and Party and State leaders attending the groundbreaking ceremony has been deeply engraved in the hearts of Si Pa Phìn residents. For them, it was not only a formal start but also a commitment of care for the younger generation in the highlands. They believe that once the school is completed, today’s children will have better learning opportunities and, in the future, become doctors, engineers, and teachers serving their homeland. That is the sustainable path to eliminating poverty, building prosperous borderlands, and safeguarding the nation’s frontiers.