Hundreds of students "cross the river to get to class", Luong Minh commune finds ways to ensure safety

At the start of the new school year, more than 160 primary school students in Luong Minh commune have to cross the river by boat or raft to get to school. Currently, the authorities are helping to get the children across the river, but in the long term, a more effective and safer solution is needed so that students and parents can conveniently pick up and drop off their children to school.

Commune police support to take students across the river

On the morning of September 3, schools in Luong Minh commune began the new school year. Among them, hundreds of primary and secondary school students study two sessions, eat and sleep at school.

At Luong Minh Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Principal, currently 161 students living in 6 outlying villages have to cross the river to get to school. The reason is that the flood at the end of July washed away the Xop Mat suspension bridge - the only suspension bridge connecting the center of Luong Minh commune with the inland villages.

Hundreds of students and parents from Luong Minh commune waited on the riverbank to get on a boat to cross the river and go to school on the morning of September 3. Photo: CSCC

Without the bridge, on the first day of school, more than 160 primary school students in Ca Moong, Xop Chao villages and other outlying villages such as Xop Mat, Minh Phuong, La village, and Coi village all had to cross the river to get to school. In particular, in Ca Moong and Xop Chao villages, to get to school, parents and primary school students had to walk more than 40 minutes from the village to the boat dock, then travel by motorboat for nearly 1 hour to reach the center of Luong Minh commune. From the center of the commune, they continued to ride motorbikes across the Xop Mat suspension bridge for about 30 minutes to reach school. This school year, students from Ca Moong and Xop Chao villages had to cross the river twice because the suspension bridge was broken.

Luong Minh Commune Police mobilized manpower and boats to take students across the river. Photo: CSCC

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - Principal of Luong Minh Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities added: On the morning of September 3, students and parents were supported by the commune police officers, commune officials and village officials to mobilize more canoes and small boats to cross the river, because the whole commune only had 2 small motorboats.

According to regulations, Luong Minh students go to school on Monday, stay at the school and go home on Saturday and Sunday. However, due to landslides and the suspension bridge being gone, on September 3, Luong Minh Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities held a meeting with parents to find solutions to ensure the safety of the children when they go to school.

It is dangerous for young students to cross the river by boat, especially in rainy and windy weather, and they need the support of authorities and adequate protective gear and lifebuoys. Boating on the river must also be inspected and licensed according to regulations. Photo: CSCC

After the meeting, the school and parents agreed that for the time being, the children will stay at school for 2 weeks before going home once. Parents will have less time to pick up and drop off their children, and the children will also have less time to cross the river to get to school. As for the teachers on duty, they also agreed to take turns staying with the students on weekends and taking care of them while they are at school.

Finding solutions to help students get to school more safely

Currently, in addition to 161 primary school students, secondary school students living in 4 inner villages (Cham Puong, Minh Thanh, Minh Tien, and Dua village) also have to cross the river to go to school in the commune center, which is very dangerous, especially when the weather is unfavorable.

Parents take their children to Luong Minh Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities on the morning of September 3. Photo: CSCC

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang - Secretary of the Party Committee of Luong Minh Commune said that in the long term, the most effective solution is to build a solid bridge across the river. The new school year has begun, and it is also the rainy and stormy season, so having students regularly cross the river and take ferries to school is potentially risky. Therefore, in the coming time, the commune plans to mobilize the people, together with the local Party Committee and authorities, to open dirt roads and clear traffic jams so that people can travel and children from 4 outlying villages can go to school without having to cross the river and take ferries.

Students in Ca Moong and Xop Chao villages still have to take a boat from the village to the commune center.

The first meal of Luong Minh students at Luong Minh Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities on September 3. Photo: CSCC

Specifically, currently, from the outer villages to the school in Dua Ngoai village via the Xop Mat suspension bridge (which collapsed after the flood), there is also a road that goes around La village, Minh Thanh village, Minh Tien village, Minh Thanh village with about 500 households. The estimated road distance is about 10km, passing through the production areas of the people, of which about 4km has formed the road, the remaining 6km needs to be leveled.

Due to the long distance, the school and parents agreed to let their children stay and study at school, eating and living at school for 2 weeks before returning home once. Photo: CSCC

“Despite the difficulties, the commune is determined to mobilize all resources and support to create the best conditions for students to go to school; to help parents feel more secure. It is expected that in October, the mobilization to open the road will be deployed, trying to complete it early before the unfavorable rain and wind,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Thang - Secretary of the Party Committee of Luong Minh commune.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/hang-tram-hoc-sinh-qua-song-den-lop-xa-luong-minh-tim-cach-bao-dam-an-toan-10305785.html