Teachers juggling “three tasks”

Unlike schools in urban centers where parents actively support education, schools in remote areas face unique difficulties at the start of each school year. Teachers must manage three tasks at once: cleaning and decorating classrooms for the opening ceremony, visiting households to encourage parents to send their children to school, and helping students, many of whom speak ethnic minority languages, review Vietnamese and core knowledge to catch up with the new curriculum.

At Nậm Nhừ Kindergarten (Nà Hỳ Commune), teacher Cà Thị Hà and four colleagues have been preparing Huổi Nụ 2 satellite campus, which hosts 75 children across three classes. Although just over 10km from the commune center, the mountain road is winding and difficult. Over the past month, the teachers made dozens of trips to ready the school for reopening. “Most of the children here are Mông, and families still face hardships, so preparing for school is not always a priority. We teachers have to take the initiative, from cleaning classrooms to persuading parents,” shared teacher Hà.

With seven satellite campuses, some dozens of kilometers away, Nậm Nhừ Kindergarten also faces a teacher shortage, forcing them to combine classes. “Multi-grade teaching is much more demanding,” said Principal Lò Thị Thỏa. “But with the motto ‘for our beloved students’, we do everything we can to help them settle into school routines.”

Readying for the first day

In Sính Phình commune, known for its harsh conditions and poor infrastructure, teachers at Trung Thu Semi-boarding Primary School for Ethnic Minorities have been busily repairing facilities, setting up dormitories, and preparing meals for over 500 Hmông students, more than 300 of whom board on campus. Teachers also traveled to distant villages to ensure every child on the list returned to school.

Teacher Mùa Thị Thái, homeroom teacher for Grade 1A1, described the delicate work of helping first graders adjust to life away from home. “I guide them in daily routines, comfort them, and motivate them to ease their homesickness,” she said. Meanwhile, some students with talents were chosen to prepare performances for the opening ceremony, adding joy and excitement.

Similarly, at Tủa Thàng Kindergarten No.2, which has 11 classes and 226 children across three satellite campuses, teachers have prepared both facilities and contingency plans for student pickup. “Parents here often take children to the fields during summer, so to ensure everyone returns, we call ahead, remind families, and even organize teacher teams to bring children from their homes if needed,” explained Principal Trần Thị Phương.

Despite damaged facilities from floods and limited resources, schools across Điện Biên are united by one determination: no child, no classroom will miss the opening day. With the combined efforts of teachers, parents, and local communities, the sound of the school drum on September 5 will once again echo across even the most remote villages, marking a fresh start full of hope.