Overtime construction site, racing against the weather
In the early days of August, the construction site of Khuat Xa Primary and Secondary Boarding School, Lang Son province was littered with materials, scaffolding and machinery.
Many groups of workers were divided into teams, urgently mixing mortar, transporting materials, installing doors and completing building blocks.
In many rows of houses, dozens of aluminum frame glass doors are erected along the corridor, waiting to be installed. Inside, the walls have been plastered and painted. Some rooms are completing the electrical and water systems and final items.
Many high-rise buildings have been roofed, painted exteriors, and the shape of the school is gradually becoming clearer. However, some items in the central area of the construction site are still full of concrete and surrounding scaffolding.
After continuous rains, the road through the construction site became muddy, with many puddles and wheel crevices. Mud and soil make it difficult for workers and vehicles transporting materials as well as the construction process of outdoor items.
Mr. Trinh Minh Vuong, Project Commander, said that the total construction volume at Khuat Xa currently reaches about 80%.
Classrooms and dormitories have basically taken shape; contractors are focusing on completing the outdoor electrical system, water supply and drainage, yards, roads and landscape.
According to a report by the Department of Education and Training of Lang Son province, the number of classrooms and dormitories in Khuat Xa reached about 80%, while the dining hall, multi-purpose building and new technical systems reached about 60%.
The main items are being accelerated to serve the new school year. The garden can continue to be completed later, but the electricity, water and drainage systems must operate smoothly before welcoming students," Mr. Vuong said.
Also according to Mr. Vuong, prolonged rain is the biggest difficulty at the construction site. At times, the afternoon just stopped, and the next morning it rained again, causing interruptions in the construction of the yard and road, paint outside the house, and installation of the drainage system.
To compensate for the progress, the contractor organizes the simultaneous construction of many items. When it rains, workers focus on working indoors; when the weather is favorable, manpower and machinery are mobilized to outdoor areas. Some teams maintain overtime until about 9-10 pm daily.
Lack of teachers and staff serving before welcoming students
According to the Lang Son Provincial Department of Education and Training, besides the pressure to complete facilities, four newly established boarding schools also face a shortage of human resources.
Each school has been arranged with 4 to 5 vice principals, of which one person is assigned to be in charge of administration while waiting for the appointment of the principal.
The primary school teaching staff basically meets the requirements, but the four schools still lack a total of 20 secondary school teachers according to the subject structure.
Quoc Khanh School is short of 10 people; Khuat Xa is short of 7 teachers for Math, Literature, Chemistry, Geography and History; Mau Son is short of 2 people; Kien Moc is short of one Physics teacher.
The greater difficulty lies in the boarding service force. Khuat Xa School alone needs 27 cooks but has not arranged anyone.
Kien Moc School is also short of 16 cooks and 4 cleaning staff. The shortage of personnel directly affects the organization of collective kitchens, management and care for students outside of school hours.
Regarding construction progress, units set a target to hand over some items from mid-August. Teaching equipment, bunk beds, personal cabinets, dining room equipment and computers are expected to be installed before August 30.
At the end of August, schools will try to operate the entire process of receiving students, organizing accommodation, using electricity and water, fire prevention and fighting, and boarding management.
The opening ceremony is expected to take place on September 5. Some schools may combine the organization of the inauguration ceremony, but the prerequisite is that the areas put into use must complete the technical system, be accepted and ensure safety for students.
