In recent years, schools and local authorities in Mường Chà District, Điện Biên Province have actively implemented literacy programs, providing ethnic minorities in rural and remote communities with the opportunity to access knowledge, improve their lives, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction.

As night falls over the remote villages of Mường Chà District, the literacy class in Trung Dình Village, Huổi Lèng Commune, comes alive with students practicing reading and spelling. The class, comprising 20 Mông ethnic learners aged between 40 and nearly 60, is taught by teachers from Huổi Lèng Semi-Boarding Primary School for Ethnic Minorities. Held in the village every evening, Monday through Friday, the class offers residents the chance to develop reading and writing skills.

During the day, she works on farms and fields, but every evening, Giàng Nụ Tú (56 years old) from Trung Dình Village is among the first to arrive at class. She said: “Farming is exhausting, but I always try my best to be on time for class. Thanks to my teachers, I can now read and write, and I also have the chance to meet and interact with my neighbors, learning valuable life lessons”.

In these challenging highland areas, the people of Huổi Lèng Commune mainly rely on agriculture, facing economic constraints and difficult access to transportation. Poverty and near-poverty rates remain high, and many working-age individuals are illiterate, making it difficult for them to access scientific and technical knowledge. To address this, local authorities and the education sector have been actively implementing measures to improve the effectiveness of literacy programs.

To ensure the teaching is effective, schools assign local teachers fluent in ethnic languages, making communication easier and learning more accessible. Mr. Hoàng Thanh Nghị, Principal of Huổi Lèng Semi-Boarding Primary School for Ethnic Minorities, explained that many residents are not fluent in the national language and have a limited vocabulary, making them hesitant to attend class. Therefore, the school assign teachers who are locals and can teach in the ethnic language, helping students feel more comfortable, less self-conscious, and better able to grasp the lessons.

Beyond Trung Dình Village, literacy classes are also regularly held in Huổi Chua Village, Ma Thì Hồ Commune. Expressing his joy at having the opportunity to study, Thào A Dính (53 years old), a student in the class, shared: “Due to difficult circumstances, I never had the chance to go to school. Being illiterate made life very challenging. I struggled to learn agricultural techniques from TV, books, and newspapers. So when a literacy class was opened in my village, I immediately enrolled. Thanks to these classes, I can now read, write, and do basic arithmetic. This allows me to take notes, manage simple calculations, and access information through various media sources.”

Teachers in these classes not only teach but also mentor and support their students. Given the varying ages and learning abilities of the students, teachers adopt flexible teaching methods. Those who learn quickly receive advanced instruction, while slower learners get one-on-one guidance, with lessons repeated to ensure comprehension.

Mr. Trần Trung Nhân, Principal of Ma Thì Hồ Semi-Boarding Primary School for Ethnic Minorities, underlined: “We strive to organize classes that accommodate the conditions of the local people. Teachers are carefully selected, not only do they have strong pedagogical skills, but they also speak the ethnic language, creating a close connection with students. Besides literacy, we integrate life skills training and guide students on how to apply their knowledge to farming and livestock production to improve their income.”

Literacy programs do more than equip people with reading and writing skills- they open doors to new information, broaden knowledge, and enhance quality of life. Once literate, people can read newspapers, watch TV, and use mobile phones to stay informed about government support policies and advanced agricultural techniques to apply to farming and livestock production. Recognizing the importance of literacy, the Mường Chà District’s Department of Education and Training has proactively developed plans in coordination with local authorities, identifying and tracking literacy rates while encouraging more people to enroll.

Mr. Trần Hồng Quân, Head of the Mường Chà District’s Department of Education and Training, affirms that they consider literacy education a crucial task that contributes to raising education levels and fostering socio-economic development. Every year, the education sector collaborates with communes and townships to review and update data, mobilizing people to join literacy classes. As a result, the number of illiterate individuals in the district has steadily declined.

From these evening classes in highlands areas, the light of knowledge is spreading, illuminating the remote and border areas of Mường Chà District. Literacy programs are not just about teaching people to read and write- they empower individuals to communicate with confidence, engage in community activities, and apply knowledge to economic development. This is a vital foundation for Mường Chà to achieve sustainable poverty reduction and drive local progress.