Amidst the mist covering the highland border villages, when oil lamps or solar lights just light up, special classes echo with spelling sounds.
In that classroom, the instructors are not professional teachers but dedicated and persistent commune police officers who bring literacy to ethnic minorities, according to the Tuyen Quang Provincial Police e-Portal.
In Tung Vai border commune, the fragmented terrain and difficult economic conditions make illiteracy in working-age children still a challenge for socio-economic development and ensuring security and order. Clearly recognizing that illiteracy is a major barrier to the process of escaping poverty, the commune police force has volunteered to participate in illiteracy eradication for people.
Classes are usually held at the village cultural house. Students are very diverse, from mothers holding their children while practicing spelling to elderly people who are used to manual labor now practicing holding pens to write each first stroke.
To mobilize people to come to class, commune police officers have to overcome many difficulties. During the day, people go to the fields and farm; in the evening, many people are hesitant because of their old age and limited ability to absorb.
To maintain the number of students, commune police officers implement the motto "eating together, living together, working together and speaking the same ethnic language", gradually building trust and encouraging people to participate in learning.
Comrade Hoang Van Tan - a commune police officer participating in teaching literacy classes, said: "The most difficult thing is not teaching literacy but motivating people. We explain to people that knowing how to read will help them read instructions on using fertilizers, sign papers, access information and avoid being taken advantage of by bad guys. When they see practical benefits, people will proactively come to class.
The teaching content is also built to suit the local reality. Instead of academic lessons, officials integrate the recognition of letters through the names of plants and livestock, along with legal regulations on borders and security and order.
Illiteracy eradication not only helps people read and write fluently but also opens up opportunities to access science and technology, change production thinking and build a civilized lifestyle. Evening classes also contribute to tightening the close relationship between the Police force and the people, consolidating the great national unity bloc, contributing to firmly protecting the borders of the Fatherland.
Although there are still many difficulties ahead, the "sewing letters" journey of the Border Commune Police officers of Tung Vai is still being continued with enthusiasm and responsibility, bringing the light of knowledge to the villages at the forefront of the Fatherland.
