Mr. Hoang Duc Hoa and Mr. Do Duc Thuan in Quang Binh have just received the Outstanding Character Award at the 2024 Vietnam Education Journalism Award.
"Motorbike taxi" pick up and drop off students
Having been attached to the Bo Trach District Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities for many years, Mr. Hoang Duc Hoa, the school's principal, has not been reluctant to take on any big or small tasks.
The school has almost 100% of the students being Ma Coong (Bru - Van Kieu ethnic group). The people here live on slash-and-burn farming, so most of the students are in difficult circumstances.
Along with that, mobilizing parents and students to bring them to class is a regular task of teachers here. Mr. Hoa also goes to every corner and knocks on every door to talk to parents, then together with other teachers "pull" students to go to school.
Many people joke that he is a “motorbike taxi” who picks up and drops off students. Because many students go home to their families on the weekend and then “forget” to come to class. So Mr. Hoa rides his motorbike from early in the morning to pick up the students on time.
Understanding that, to attract children, not only at home, but also in each classroom, therefore, the teacher also encourages teachers to be close to instructing and creating excitement in each lesson. Many extracurricular activities, arts, folk games... are also organized by the school. Along with that, there is concern for the health and nutrition of students.
With all his heart, Mr. Do Duc Thuan, a teacher at Lien Thuy Secondary School (Le Thuy district) chose to do volunteer work to help make the children's lives less difficult.
He started doing charity work in 2011, when he only wanted to give Bru - Van Kieu ethnic minority children a few pairs of sandals or lunch boxes to go to school. From those initial activities, he gradually connected and spread with many benefactors to have charity programs for the children.
Many activities have been organized by the teacher such as: "Going to school with you during the stormy season"; giving scholarships to students; giving savings books to teachers in especially difficult circumstances... activities have also been carried out more by the teacher in the community, in difficult circumstances.
Inspirational role model
With his contributions to the community, in 2023, Mr. Do Duc Thuan was awarded the "Youth contributing to the community 2023" award by the Vietnam Volunteer Community.
In his teaching work, Mr. Thuan always innovates his teaching methods to bring appropriate knowledge to his students. His volunteer journey is also a story for him to incorporate and share, thereby fostering the spirit of "mutual love" in the students.
"Every time I do something for others, I learn a lesson about humanity and sharing," Mr. Thuan confided.
Both teachers Hoang Duc Hoa and Do Duc Thuan received the Outstanding Character Award at the 2024 Vietnam Education Journalism Award.
Teacher Hoang Duc Hoa is happier every day as the school is more spacious and well-equipped than before. Life is gradually changing, families are also paying more attention to their children's education. In the past 2 school years, teachers and students are happy when the children go to school by themselves.
When becoming a typical character, Mr. Hoa shared: I was surprised and extremely honored, for me, this is the merit of the collective of teachers, I only contributed a small part in it. In this place, the students are still in difficulty, so I was determined to stick with it. Not only me but all the other teachers will try the same.
