On February 28, Lao Dong Newspaper reporters received a report about two 8th grade students of Na Loi Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School, Na Loi commune, Nghe An province being "kidnapped" to get married.
According to initial information, two female students, including L.H. A (class 8A) and L.Y. D (class 8B), both residing in Noong Han village, Na Loi commune, were "kidnapped" by two young men in the area to become their wives.
Although the school had previously strengthened propaganda and mobilized students not to get married early, the incident still occurred.
Mr. Nguyen Tan Phuong - Principal of Na Loi Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School - confirmed the incident and said that the school had grasped the information immediately after the incident occurred. According to Mr. Phuong, the "wife kidnapping" was organized at night, so the school could not prevent it in time.
Saying it is "catching" according to the customs of the local people, but in fact, before that, the students had known each other and had feelings for each other. Marrying is voluntary," Mr. Phuong said. However, according to him, this is still early marriage and caused the school to lose two students, when they had not completed the secondary school program.
An official of Na Loi Commune Police said that the unit has grasped the incident and is in the process of verifying and handling it according to regulations. According to this official, the custom of "kidnapping wives" inherently exists in the community, but in essence, many cases are voluntary between the two parties.
Reality shows that in some mountainous areas in western Nghe An, early marriage still occurs. Many ethnic minority students drop out of school halfway to get married when they are not old enough according to the law.
According to the provisions of the Law on Marriage and Family, women must be 18 years old and men 20 years old to be married. Organizing or maintaining marital relations when they are not old enough is an act of violating the law.
Early marriage not only affects children's right to education but also negatively impacts reproductive health, population quality and socio-economic development opportunities in the locality.
