Mr. Danh Nho (64 years old), residing in Thu Ba town, An Bien district (Kien Giang) is one of the people who has taught Khmer for many years at Thu Ba pagoda. In the early 2000s, realizing that the need to learn Khmer was increasing but there was no one to teach, he took on this task.
Every year, near the end of the school year, he coordinates with the monks at the pagoda to check the facilities, classrooms, desks, chairs, and books to prepare for the opening of Khmer classes. For him, being taught the writing and language of his people is a joy every summer.
Mr. Danh Nho shared: “I am happy to be taught the Khmer writing and language. I hope that after learning about the writing, language and culture of the Khmer people, the children will preserve and develop it further, and when they grow up, they can use it for their studies and work to contribute to society.”
Although he is very busy with farming work to support his family's economy, with his love and desire to preserve the language of his people, Mr. Danh Nho still takes the time to go to class to teach Khmer. Having never been trained in any pedagogical school, but with all his passion, he has created close, useful lessons, inspiring students to learn about the unique cultural values of the Khmer people.
Danh Thanh Huy, a student of Khmer, said: “I came here to learn how to read and write Khmer thanks to Mr. Nho’s dedicated teaching. He held my hand and wrote each letter, helping me get used to and understand the language of the nation. Each of his classes is very fun, not only teaching about Khmer, he also often introduces the traditions of the nation through many stories.”
As for Mr. Danh Sam Bach (46 years old) - a teacher at Nam Thai 2 Primary School, Nam Thai commune, more than 24 years standing on the podium is also the same number of years attached to the Khmer class at Thu Ba Pagoda.
Although it is an unpaid job and only teaches for a short period during the summer break, Mr. Bach always puts the quality of the class first. He regularly attends training courses and learns many different teaching methods so that students can approach Khmer writing and speaking effectively.
Teacher Bach said: “Instead of letting the children play with their phones during the summer, we should take them to learn Khmer. The more we learn and the more we know, the more it will be useful in the future and we will also contribute to preserving the nation’s language, not letting it fade away.”
Master Bach often encourages local people and Buddhists to send their children to class during the summer. For children who live far away and do not have the means or conditions to go to class, Master Bach is willing to take them there.
Venerable Danh Song, Deputy Abbot of Thu Ba Pagoda, said: Teaching literacy in the summer is considered an effective solution, contributing significantly to preserving the national cultural identity. Every year, Thu Ba Pagoda opens from 10 to 13 Khmer literacy classes for about 350 students during the summer. In addition to the main teaching point at the pagoda, there are also sub-points in hamlets with a large Khmer population, with more than 10 people supporting free teaching.
“The free Khmer language teaching at Thu Ba Pagoda is maintained regularly and continuously developed thanks to the support of dedicated teachers, typically Mr. Nho and Mr. Bach. Although their families' economic situation is still unstable, the teachers are still willing to help the pagoda maintain this unpaid work. The pagoda really appreciates these hearts, so every year the pagoda tries to mobilize benefactors to support the teachers with part of their travel expenses and support books and school supplies to attract children to go to school,” Venerable Danh Song shared.
