Touching images of hundreds of teachers volunteering to clean up schools in flooded areas

In recent days, hundreds of teachers from lowland schools have carried hoes and shovels to mountainous schools in Nghe An to help clean up mud and soil after floods.

The recent historic flood in the western communes of Nghe An province caused severe damage to many schools. Dozens of schools in mountainous communes were buried in mud and severely damaged.

Faced with that situation, Mr. Thai Van Thanh, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province, launched the movement "schools helping schools" to help overcome the damage caused by floods.

Over the past few days, hundreds of teachers from lowland schools have carried hoes and shovels to mountainous communes in Nghe An province to help mountainous schools clean up mud and soil, so that students can return to school soon.

Teachers from the lowlands bring hoes and shovels to help clean up mud at schools in the mountains. Photo: Contributor

Hundreds of teachers in the delta region responded to the "school helping school" movement. Photo: Contributor

According to Mr. Tran Sy Ha, Principal of My Ly 2 Primary Boarding School (My Ly Commune, Nghe An Province), the flood has been over for more than 10 days, but the amount of mud and soil is still thick, covering nearly 3 meters.

According to Mr. Ha, the historic flood damaged the entire campus, the official residence and the teachers' dormitory, and swept away many teaching equipment.

“The flood has passed, but mud is still piled up at the school. It is estimated that more than 15,000 cubic meters of mud need to be cleaned up, and many items at the school are damaged and need to be repaired before the new school year,” said Mr. Ha.

The Director of the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province has given support to a kindergarten to overcome the consequences of the flood. Photo: Contributor

At the main campus of this school, the terrible flood that occurred on July 22nd caused the entire school campus to be submerged in mud. The administrative buildings and teachers’ dormitories were swept away and severely damaged. Dozens of computers, televisions, projectors, etc. used for teaching were submerged in water.

In addition, the recent historic flood also affected 40 schools in the western communes of Nghe An province, causing estimated damage of about 40 billion VND.

Teachers from the Nghe An Province Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities hold hoes and shovels to help colleagues clean up mud after the flood in Muong Tip. Photo: Contributor

According to a representative of the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province, the flood has caused severe damage to facilities and machinery at schools, and the amount of mud and soil piled up at schools has made preparations for the new school year difficult.

After the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province launched the movement, more than 10 schools in the delta region organized volunteer teacher groups, bringing hoes, shovels, food... to the highlands to help clear mud, repair schools, and give gifts to affected students and teachers.

Teachers from Nguyen Duy Trinh High School (Nghe An) went to the mountains to support the school. Photo: Contributor

Mr. Cao Thanh Tuan, Principal of Dien Chau 2 High School, said that in response to the movement, many teachers from the school registered to go to Tuong Duong and Tam Quang communes to help overcome the floods.

"Many teachers signed up, but we only selected those who were healthy enough. Of the 16 people going to the mountains, there were 14 male and 2 female teachers. When they set off, the teachers also brought all their tools from home, such as hoes and shovels. We also prepared enough food so we could eat and drink ourselves so as not to bother the local authorities," said Mr. Cao Thanh Tuan.

Teacher Ta Khac Dinh, a teacher at Dien Chau 2 High School, said that after responding to the "school helping school" movement, many teachers went to support schools damaged by floods.

"After the flood, many heartbreaking scenes occurred at schools in the western part of Nghe An province. Witnessing the scene of mud piled up everywhere, many houses swept away by floodwaters, we were all choked up. In addition to bringing hoes and shovels to the highland schools to clean up, we also called for sponsorship and used our own money to buy 100 sets of clothes to give away. The school also called for donations and brought many items to support the people," said Mr. Dinh.

Kindergarten in Muong Tip commune was submerged in mud after the flood. Photo: Contributor

Similarly, more than 30 teachers from Hung Thinh Kindergarten (Hung Nguyen Commune) also traveled 100km to support Chi Khe Kindergarten (Con Cuong) which suffered nearly 1 billion VND in damage after the flood. Currently, the "school helping school" movement continues to spread widely in Nghe An. Many schools such as Que Phong High School, Nguyen Duy Trinh High School, Nghi Loc 2 High School, Provincial Boarding School... have organized donations of rice, dried fish, clothes, fish sauce... to send to damaged schools in the western part of Nghe An Province.

Teachers clean at a kindergarten in Muong Tip commune. Photo: Contributor

Mr. Thai Van Thanh, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province, said that the "schools helping schools" movement not only helps schools quickly overcome the consequences of floods to prepare for the new school year, but also contributes to spreading humanistic values, fostering the spirit of solidarity and sharing together in the education sector.

"I respectfully acknowledge and commend hundreds of teachers in lowland schools who have not been afraid of long and difficult journeys and have proactively gone to support other schools in extremely difficult circumstances. The teachers not only brought hoes, shovels, and food, but also the deep feelings, responsibility, and compassion of teachers," said Mr. Thanh.

A professor in the South withdrew all his retirement money to support flood victims with 1 billion VND. Professor Le Ngoc Thach - a visiting lecturer at the University of Natural Sciences , Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City - supported flood victims with 1 billion VND. This is the amount of money he saved from his salary, teaching, and writing books.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/xuc-dong-hinh-anh-hang-tram-giao-vien-tinh-nguyen-den-vung-lu-don-dep-truong-lop-2428759.html