Closing the hardships
In the early days of September, Khanh An Border Boarding School (Khanh An Primary and Secondary Boarding School) was filled with laughter. The birth of the school also has a special meaning: "support" for about 300 overseas Vietnamese students who are making a living with their families in Prek Chrey (Koh Thom district, Kandal province, Kingdom of Cambodia).
Previously, the journey to find Vietnamese letters for the children was a series of arduous days. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Y (8A4 student) still cannot forget the mornings waking up when it was still dark. The opening time and the first semester often coincide with the flood season.
Where Y lives, there is no flood-overcoming road, going to school is completely left to fluctuating ferries. "I have to wake up at 5 am to catch the ferry in time. Ferries pick up students from many places, so just being a little late means missing the trip, which means going to school late" - Y recalled.
For Nguyen Minh Khoi (8A1 student), the 4km distance from home to school is another hardship. Previously, to stick to class for two sessions, at noon, Khoi and many friends ate temporarily at a restaurant at the school gate. After eating, the children returned to class to lie down and rest on their desks to wait for afternoon class. "With boarding schools, we can eat, drink, and sleep properly, going to school is much more convenient" - Khoi shared.
Having a decent place to eat and stay right at school has helped children in border areas reduce the time spent traveling and have conditions to rest. That is a solid milestone for them to stick to school more sustainably.
The door reopens unfinished dreams
Not only alleviating the hardship of sticking to class, the boarding school also rekindled hope for students who had to put aside their dreams of studying. For Nguyen Huu Truong (8A1 student), the school is a magical door that reopens the light of the future.
The COVID-19 epidemic forced Truong to stop studying. For the past 3 years, despite his best wishes, circumstances have not allowed him to return to school. This year, when he heard that Khanh An commune had a boarding school, Truong asked for permission and was agreed by his family.
Returning to school after 3 years of unfinished work, the student cherishes every moment in class. "The happiest thing is that I have returned to the path of studying. I will try to study really hard to become a journalist later" - Truong emotionally confided. Therefore, the opening ceremony here is not only the beginning of a new school year, but also a milestone marking the revival of dreams.
Relieving Difficult Mountains" preserves mother tongue
Attached to the podium in the remote border for many years, Mr. Huynh Van Ngoan - teacher cum General Head of Khanh An School Team - deeply understands the disadvantages of students.
He does not remember how many times he felt heartbroken when witnessing students the same age as his children and grandchildren having to eat haphazardly at eateries, and then wandering around all afternoon waiting for the afternoon class.
I personally feel very happy to see my students now have more favorable conditions in the journey of learning their mother tongue. Because it not only provides meals and sleep, but more importantly, it creates a stable environment for them to be attached to Vietnamese and confidently nurture their future," Mr. Ngoan shared.
The school opening drum for the 2026-2027 school year echoes loudly in the border area, not only signaling a new school year, but also the sound that starts the journey to find letters and preserve the mother tongue of hundreds of overseas Vietnamese. There will be no more floating boats at dawn, hasty meals or flickering sleeps. The simple school is placed at the right time, fully capable of opening up extraordinary things: Giving opportunities to study and nurturing the aspiration to fly far.
Khanh An Boarding School is a key renovation investment project with a total budget of more than 13.7 billion VND. With a scale of 45 classrooms (32 primary and 13 secondary schools). The school has a spacious and modern facilities system, helping teachers easily apply digital technology to lectures. In particular, with the maintenance of 2 boarding and semi-boarding operating models, the school is becoming a "second home", helping students - especially children of overseas Vietnamese families - reduce difficulties in daily life and firmly step on the path of seeking knowledge.
