After the terrible flash flood on the night of July 22 swept through the mountainous communes of the West of Nghe An, many schools were submerged in mud.
According to the report of Nghe An education sector, out of 52 schools in the whole province affected, 18 were deeply flooded and severely damaged, 22 were flooded and 12 were affected by storm No. 3 (Wipha). Xa Luong Secondary School and My Ly 2 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities were the two schools that suffered the most damage.
After the flood receded and the water level on the rivers decreased, Mr. Tran Sy Ha - Principal of My Ly 2 Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities - traveled 75km from his home in Huu Kiem commune to the school. However, the road was eroded and isolated in many places, so he had to return the next day. Looking down from above, he burst into tears when he saw the 2-storey school building buried in mud almost the entire first floor. The row of level 4 houses was washed away, many other auxiliary works were deeply submerged in mud.
Xa Luong Secondary School was also severely affected, with 9 classrooms, 4 TVs, 2 computers for desks, 2 printers, all of the school's desks and chairs and documents soaked in water for many days. In addition, books, personal belongings of students and blankets, bed sheets, and personal belongings of teachers and boarding students were also completely damaged.
Over the years, Xa Luong Secondary School has received investment from the school and the Party and the State, gradually building it to meet national standards. In the midst of poverty, it is a symbol of faith and hope for a better future for the children of ethnic minorities here. But after just one night, everything almost disappeared with the flood..., Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung - Vice Principal of the school - shared.
Ms. Dung added: I have worked at the school for 35 years, but have never seen floods rise so quickly, flooding nearly 2-3m deep on the first floor. Before the flood, the school could not send teachers to the school to move the documents, books and boarding facilities of 343 students to higher floors. As a result, all teaching equipment, personal belongings, and documents were submerged.
In extremely difficult and challenging circumstances, when teachers and students were isolated, many families whose properties, houses and schools were swept away by floodwaters enthusiastically called for help and sharing from the community. In the immediate future, the school needs to be rebuilt, needing tables, chairs, cabinets, books, teaching equipment, blankets, kitchens... to be able to welcome students back to class in the new school year.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan - Chief of Office of Nghe An Department of Education and Training - said that the department has issued documents directing and mobilizing human resources, coordinating with functional forces to urgently approach flooded schools in the area to clean up, sanitize, and ensure safe conditions for students to return to school in the new school year.
Mr. Hoan added that the mobilization of teachers and staff of the school is currently facing many difficulties because many teachers and students are also being severely affected - their houses are flooded, their assets are swept away by the flood.
