Desire to learn letters
It was the first day of a special literacy class in the highlands of Thanh Long commune, Cao Bang province. The class usually took place in the evening, when the mist had covered the high mountains of Phia Khao hamlet.
The person who said that greeting was Mr. Dang Ton Khe, born in 1989. Although he was 36 years old, when he entered the classroom, he was still polite and innocent like a young student. The words "Hello, teacher" from a grown man made Ms. Lien choke up.
“I never thought an older student would call me “child”. That greeting is filled with respect, and is an expression of a heart that longs to learn and become literate,” Ms. Lien shared.
After many years of teaching, Ms. Lien has never experienced such a special feeling. And it was also touching, Mr. Khe was not only polite but also very diligent, always came to class early, studied hard, wrote neatly and was one of the most progressive students.
The literacy class at the Phia Khao Village Cultural House officially started on April 15, 2024 and will last until April 15, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm every day. The class has 24 students, all of whom are ethnic minorities, ranging in age from 32 to 58. Each person comes to class with a different story, but they share a common aspiration: to know how to read and write, so as not to be left behind.
The two oldest students in the class are Mrs. Ban Mui Pet and Mrs. Dang Mui Lay, both born in 1967. At the age of 58, their eyes are dim and their hands are stiff, but every day they come to class regularly to learn each letter.
“Both of them used the same pair of glasses. Sometimes they would swap them, which was both funny and heartbreaking. Some days they remembered their lessons, some days they forgot everything, but they still persisted in writing until the end of the session, and when they got home they continued to practice reading and writing,” Ms. Lien said.
"Carrying words" backwards
Many times, Ms. Lien was moved when she saw students with gray hair, trembling hands holding pens, diligently spelling out each word. For young people, learning to read is a very normal thing, but for older people, each letter is a challenge.
Ms. Lien said: “I was a little worried in the first class. Because the students were all old, it was hard enough to go to school, they learned slowly, and their hands were stiff, so writing was difficult. But what I admired was their perseverance, seriousness, and spirit of progress.”
In addition to regular class time, Ms. Lien also organizes games and quizzes to help students remember lessons longer. Each class is a little joy, a step forward to surpass oneself. After a year of study, all 24 students can read text and calculate, of which 6 people completed the course well.
The joy of the students is immeasurable. Mrs. Ban Mui Pet emotionally shared: “Before, wherever I went, I only knew how to point. Now that I know how to sign, I feel less inferior to others. I am so happy!”. Mrs. Dang Mui Lay said: “Now that I know how to read signs, flyers, text messages… life seems to open a new door. Being able to read words makes me feel more confident.”
That class not only brought knowledge to the people, but also lit a new fire in them - the fire of knowledge, of faith in themselves, in life. They know that it is never too late to learn, to change, to dream of something better for themselves and their children.
Behind the success of the class is the silent dedication of teacher Nong Thi Lien, a teacher at Yen Son Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, Thanh Long Commune, who has to travel dozens of kilometers of steep passes every day to get to class.
“From my house to Phia Khao is nearly 20km. The road has many steep passes, and at night there is thick fog. At first I was very scared, but then I got used to it. Just thinking about the students’ waiting eyes made me feel more confident in driving,” Ms. Lien said.
The literacy class in Phia Khao has ended, but those first words will follow them throughout their lives. Amidst the misty mountain top, where there seems to be only rocks and cold wind, the light of knowledge still quietly lights up simple yet beautiful dreams.
The dream of a woman who knows how to sign her name, of a man who reads a commune notice for the first time, of students who hold a newspaper for the first time to read the first lines with their own eyes and hearts.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/hanh-trinh-xoa-mu-chu-giua-may-mu-phia-khao-post743045.html
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