The Remedy for Failing Education System: Passion and Commitment

This following contains exerpts from Lam Vien’s article on ThanhNienNews.com. Please go here for the original article.

I often wonder why our education system in the US trails so far behind many other countries even though we are the most affluent nation in the world.  President Barack Obama recently started a fire storm when he suggested that the school year should be extended – shorter summers.  Is this really the right solution – that students are responsible for their own education and should spend more hours in the classroom?  Or is the solution more complicated and requires better trained and more dedicated teachers who are responsible for coming up with creative ways to inspire students?

As these debates rage on across America, I found myself deeply concerned about where Vietnam stands in education.  As a growing nation with many economic challenges, Vietnam continues to struggle to deliver quality education that prepares students for today’s advance level jobs.   But that does not mean Vietnam isn’t trying.   I very fortunately came across the following article which highlights the story of some incredible teachers whose dedication and passion speaks for itself. These teachers defy every possible obstacle to provide education to children in rural areas of Vietnam.

Please read on.

“Crumbling facilities often offer none of even the most basic supplies like electricity and tap water and teachers have to put chains on their motorcycle tires in order to ride the muddy roads to work. Many have to wander remote villages before and after class to convince students to go to school.

Pang Tieng Elementary and Secondary School in Lam Dong Province’s Lac Duong District employs 22 such teachers on salaries of some VND2 million (US$112) a month.

School principal Ro Ong Ha Xuan said the teachers had a very difficult job.

“The teachers take turns collecting rainwater for daily use at the school. Otherwise, they have to get water from a nearby stream and carry it back on foot.”

He said many teachers were from Da Lat Town or Lac Duong District, both of which were more than 30 kilometers away from the school in Lac Commune.

Nguyen Van Thu, another teacher at the school, said he spent half of his VND2million monthly salary on motorbike fuel. He said he also had to put chains on his motorbike tires to pass muddy roads in the rainy season.

Thai Thi Thanh, who has been teaching at the school for nine years, said many teachers visited Pang Tieng 2 Village to pick up and drop off students due to a high number of absentees and truancies.

Unsung heroes

Nguyen Thi Minh, a teacher at Tan Duong Elementary School, said she prepared sweets as awards for students who came to class.

“The children live in mountainous areas and sweets are a rare treat for them,” she said.

However, she said the lure was sometimes ineffective and teachers had to visit local families’ homes to persuade the kids to come to school.

Teachers at Long Phuc Elementary School in Lao Cai Province offer their students free lunches to retain them.

Most students traverse several kilometers of hilly and rugged terrain to get to school, and few want to return after going home for lunch.

To keep students at school and maintain the afternoon classes, each teacher contributes a little money to cook lunches for the students.

Dao Thi Thanh, a teacher at Long Phuc Elementary School, said many parents didn’t allow their children to go to school in order to stay at home to look after the family buffaloes.

Thanh said the reason was that the families were too poor to hire field help.

“So I decided to help those families look after the buffaloes in my free time,” she said.

Persuaded by the teacher’s goodwill, many parents then began allowing their children to go to school.

Few rewards

Dozens of kindergarten teachers in the mountainous district of Huong Khe in the north-central province of Ha Tinh receive little in return for their hard work.

Many have been working hard for years in hopes of getting contracts in remote areas, where salaries are supposed to be higher than those for teachers in urban

But Tran Thi Lieu has been working for Neighborhood No. 9’s kindergarten in Huong Khe District’s Ha Linh Commune for 16 years. Her monthly pay began at VND300,000 and is still only VND900,000 ($50).

Other kindergarten teachers in Ha Linh Commune have also been receiving similar low salaries for years.
To these unsung heroes, I salute you for investing in the future of Vietnam.