Language, a bridge between soldiers and people
Lai Hoa Border Guard Station under the Border Guard of Soc Trang province, manages the area of the two coastal communes of Lai Hoa and Vinh Tan (Vinh Chau town) - where the Khmer ethnic group accounts for more than 77%. In that context, Khmer is not only a common communication language but also a bridge between the army and the people.
Understanding this, Lai Hoa Border Guard Station identifies teaching and learning Khmer language for officers and soldiers as a regular task, associated with mass mobilization and propaganda work; building trust, consolidating the people's heart position at the border.
Lieutenant Pham Hoai Duc - Deputy Head of the Mass Mobilization Team of Lai Hoa Border Guard Station - shared: "We have advised the Party Committee and the Station Command to select Khmer officials in the unit to directly teach Khmer language. Through the learning process, officers and soldiers have been able to listen, understand and communicate, thereby the propaganda work to the people has achieved clear results".
According to Major Soc Dung - Deputy Political Commissar of Lai Hoa Border Guard Station - in fact, in many coastal residential areas, Khmer is the main language in daily life and communication. Many elderly people do not understand Vietnamese, so mass propaganda in popular language faces many limitations. Even Kinh people and Chinese people living here have to learn and use Khmer for trading.
"We have identified this as a big piece that needs to be integrated into the coaching process. Officers and soldiers not only study in class but also practice in practice when coming to the area, both practicing and studying, thereby gradually listening, understanding and speaking familiar sentences to the people. Thereby contributing to the propaganda and mobilization of the masses to strictly comply with the policies and laws of the Party and the State", said Major Dung.
Green-ranked teachers, the mainstay of the people's hearts
In addition to teaching Khmer language to officers and soldiers, every summer, Lai Hoa Border Guard Station also organizes Khmer language classes for ethnic minority students around the area.
This summer is the 4th consecutive year that Lai Hoa Border Guard Station has organized a Khmer language class. Each class has 30 - 35 students, studying according to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade program of the Ministry of Education and Training. They are able to study near home, and are supported with writing lessons, drinking water, and a comfortable learning space.
Mr. Thach Canh Sa Qui, a resident of Lai Hoa commune (Vinh Chau town, Soc Trang province) happily said: "Thank you to the Border Guard Station for opening a class to teach our children the mother tongue. This is a very meaningful thing, helping children and grandchildren preserve the language and culture of the nation".
Mr. Ly Vanh Ni - specialist of the Department of Education of Vinh Chau town (Soc Trang province) - commented: "The summer class at Lai Hoa Border Guard Station is a very practical model, especially for those who do not have the conditions to go to the pagoda to learn Khmer. The class creates a premise for students to access bilingual programs in high school".
