No school left behind on opening day

Ahead of the new academic year, many schools, particularly those in areas hit hard by the early August floods, still faced daunting challenges. Facilities were damaged, classrooms, equipment, and textbooks swept away. Yet on the opening day, every schoolyard was adorned with flags and flowers, filled with the festive spirit of returning to school. Even where temporary classrooms had to be set up, schools shared the common resolve: no student, no school would miss the opening day.

At Na Phát Kindergarten (Na Son commune), the Bắng Chộc campus suffered severe flood damage and could not be repaired. To welcome children back, the school borrowed the village cultural house to host 16 preschoolers. Teachers spent days cleaning, decorating, and preparing facilities for meals and rest. Principal Mai Thị Thu Huyền said: “The Bắng Chộc campus is now bright with flags and flowers. Although the old school was destroyed along with all teaching materials, thanks to community support and our own efforts, we have prepared electricity, water, learning materials, toys, and cooking facilities in time for the opening day.”

Not only Na Phát but also six other schools in Na Son, Xa Dung, Tìa Dình, and Mường Luân, despite heavy flood damage, stood strong thanks to the joint efforts of authorities, teachers, and the community. These efforts ensured that the opening day truly became a nationwide festival of “bringing children to school.”

Determined steps for the new school year

In 2025-2026, Điện Biên has 481 public schools and centers, with 7,406 classes and over 206,000 students. The education sector has set key goals: continue renewing and improving quality; ensure equal access to quality education; enhance teacher capacity; modernize higher and vocational education; and, notably, accelerate digital transformation with the first steps toward applying artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

This spirit of renewal was seen right at the start. At Thanh An Primary and Secondary School, AI was used to support first graders in Vietnamese language classes. Teacher Lường Thị Hoài skillfully combined traditional methods with AI-generated videos that enlarged writing strokes, guiding students through visualization, practice in the air, then on paper, and reinforcing learning with games and drawing.

Meanwhile, Thanh Xương Secondary School (Mường Thanh ward) proudly received the Emulation Flag from the provincial People’s Committee. With 16 classes and 630 students, the school continues to rank among the best in the province. “This year, we aim to further raise teaching quality and sustain our top position,” said Principal Nguyễn Duy Quảng. Teachers have actively attended training, prepared innovative lesson plans, and integrated IT and AI into teaching.

Clearly, the 2025-2026 school year bears special significance for Điện Biên’s education: beginning in adversity but opening opportunities through digital transformation and new supportive policies. These create momentum for both teachers and students to step into the new year with confidence and hope.

Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training Hoàng Tuyết Ban affirmed: “With strong attention from the Party, the State, and the province, we believe Điện Biên’s education will see positive change, improve human resource quality, and contribute to local socio-economic development.”

That hope also carries responsibility for every school and teacher: not only overcoming hardship to start on time but also fostering joy, confidence, and equality in learning. For every student, the sound of the school drum marks not just the start of a new year but also a promise of knowledge, growth, and the journey toward a brighter future.