Memories of brilliant youth
On August 22, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) held a meeting and gratitude ceremony for 80 teachers representing more than 3,000 teachers who were mobilized to do educational work in the South during the resistance war against the US to save the country.
Since the early 1960s, the need for education staff and teachers in the liberation zone in the South has become urgent. Responding to the call of the Party, State and people of the Southern region, thousands of cadres, teachers and newly graduated students of pedagogical schools in the North have written volunteer petitions, ready to leave their families, say goodbye to the familiar podium, and take the task of leaving for the Southern battlefield (now called "B").
Teacher Nguyen Thi Yen Thu, currently living in Ho Chi Minh City, remembers it as a secret when she had just graduated from university, and wrote a volunteer application for the first group of teachers to go to B on May 22, 2021.
"That day, with our youth, we entered the resistance war with the spirit of "cutting along Truong Son to save the country". The number of teachers in the North from 1961 - 1975 is revolutionary knowledge, fully equipped by Uncle Ho and the Party with expertise and profession. We have completed every task assigned to us. Many teachers who were arrested and imprisoned are still indomitable and resilient" - Teacher Thu recounted.
In the memory of teacher Tran Trong Lan, currently living in Quang Ninh, the time he was ordered to concentrate was September 16, 73 . At that time, his first child was only 5 months old, his wife was 22 years old.
"I am both proud and honored to be selected to work and fight with other teachers in the South. Just take care of a young wife, children, and when there is no husband at home. Following the trend at that time, all the housework was arranged and we were excited and happy to leave" - teacher Tran Trong Lan recalled.
On September 20, 1973, teacher Tran Trong Lan and his teammates were welcomed by the late Professor, Doctor Nguyen Van Huyen, Minister of Education to meet and talk. In his speech to advise and assign tasks, he always remembered the late Minister's words when he concluded his speech "Couraged comrades go first, we enthusiastically continue to follow".
"That is the sincerity and closeness between the leaders of the Ministry and our teachers. After nearly 2 months of studying and practicing basic and necessary things, on November 17, 1973, we began our journey to the South. Since then, the years of hardship and living conditions have been completely different from when I was on the podium at the C2 Pedagogical School in Quang Ninh" - teacher Tran Trong Lan recounted.
The education sector is proud of 3,000 "Teachers go to B"
Permanent Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong affirmed that mentioning teachers in the B direction is mentioning the majestic and dangerous trekking trips across Truong Son range. Those are the days when hardship and danger seem to have no limits. On their shoulders, they have to carry a backpack weighing more than 30 kg, which is personal luggage, rice and food. They have been walking like that for months, eating and drinking water from streams, sleeping in forest hammocks, and having to avoid enemy bombs and bullets and other unusual dangers. That journey takes 2 - 3 months, even 4 - 5 months to get to the destination, depending on the route of each group.
In the fight against the enemy, many teachers were also taken prisoners by the enemy. They were also brutally tortured, but with patriotism and steadfast spirit, they did not submit or declare. In enemy prisoners, they still do not forget the noble task of teaching, of imparting knowledge to everyone,...
The Deputy Minister hopes that each teacher today will study and follow the example of generations of veteran teachers, to promote patriotism, be ready to take on difficult tasks; uphold teacher ethics, be a shining example for students; innovate creatively, combine modern knowledge with traditional values; inspire, help students nurture aspirations and love for their homeland.
Over the past 80 years, the Vietnamese education sector has gone through many hardships and glorious experiences. In that journey, teachers in the B grade are a brilliant symbol of intelligence, courage and love for the Fatherland" - the Deputy Minister emphasized.
The Deputy Minister said that due to time, war, and many years of archiving, it is inevitable that the dossier will be lost, so the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to review and compare the dossiers of teachers in the B to ensure accuracy and honor teachers who have spent their entire youth to the country.
