Ca Mau (VNA) – Hon Chuoi island inthe southernmost province of Ca Mau is home to a group of Khmer ethnicpeople, who do not receive education and eke out a living through fishing allyear round.
“I have never imagined that I can teach childrensince I was not trained to be a teacher,” said Senior Lieutenant Tran Binh Phuc,who has taught children on Hon Chuoi island to read and write for the last sixyears.
“When I got here, I saw illiterate childrenneglected by busy parents, and this kept bothering me,” Phuc said.
He asked his superior at Border Guard StationNo. 704 if he could try out a class and has been teaching nonstop ever since.
According to Phuc, he now has 19 pupilsattending classes between the first and sixth grades. Two of them havedisabilities.
The military-personnel-turned-teacher knows eachstudent’s traits and background like the back of his hand, as if they were hisown sons and daughters.
Phuc spoke proudly about Dau Yen Nhi, an8-year-old girl born with Down syndrome: “When her mother first took her to myclass, she rarely talked and could barely control her behavior. Nhi is now ableto read, write and behave politely toward her elders.”
He also told stories about 16-year-old TranThiThao, who is studying at the fifth grade level: “This girl is smart andindustrious, but her family cannot afford to send her to school on the mainlandafter she finishes my class.”
Once when he saw one of his students hungrilylooking at her peers eating noodles, Phuc asked the shop owner to serve eventhe children who came without money. Since then their meals have become part ofhis monthly expenses.
Before seeking further education on themainland, local youth learned basic knowledge from Phuc inside a smallmakeshift shelter without electric lighting. The ramshackle classroom lies nearthe forest and is infested with termites. Phuc does all the classroommaintenance.
Pointing at an aluminum bookcase in the cornerof the classroom, Phuc said it might be an average item on land, but it isextremely valuable here.
“We are lucky to get pens, clothes and booksfrom various localities,” he added.
When asked if he feels sad not being able tocelebrate Vietnamese Teacher’s Day, Phuc smiled and replied that he hasn’t beenteaching to earn gratitude, but for the children’s future.
Hon Chuoi lies 17 nautical miles to the west ofSong Doc Seaport in the southernmost province of Ca Mau./.
“I have never imagined that I can teach childrensince I was not trained to be a teacher,” said Senior Lieutenant Tran Binh Phuc,who has taught children on Hon Chuoi island to read and write for the last sixyears.
“When I got here, I saw illiterate childrenneglected by busy parents, and this kept bothering me,” Phuc said.
He asked his superior at Border Guard StationNo. 704 if he could try out a class and has been teaching nonstop ever since.
According to Phuc, he now has 19 pupilsattending classes between the first and sixth grades. Two of them havedisabilities.
The military-personnel-turned-teacher knows eachstudent’s traits and background like the back of his hand, as if they were hisown sons and daughters.
Phuc spoke proudly about Dau Yen Nhi, an8-year-old girl born with Down syndrome: “When her mother first took her to myclass, she rarely talked and could barely control her behavior. Nhi is now ableto read, write and behave politely toward her elders.”
He also told stories about 16-year-old TranThiThao, who is studying at the fifth grade level: “This girl is smart andindustrious, but her family cannot afford to send her to school on the mainlandafter she finishes my class.”
Once when he saw one of his students hungrilylooking at her peers eating noodles, Phuc asked the shop owner to serve eventhe children who came without money. Since then their meals have become part ofhis monthly expenses.
Before seeking further education on themainland, local youth learned basic knowledge from Phuc inside a smallmakeshift shelter without electric lighting. The ramshackle classroom lies nearthe forest and is infested with termites. Phuc does all the classroommaintenance.
Pointing at an aluminum bookcase in the cornerof the classroom, Phuc said it might be an average item on land, but it isextremely valuable here.
“We are lucky to get pens, clothes and booksfrom various localities,” he added.
When asked if he feels sad not being able tocelebrate Vietnamese Teacher’s Day, Phuc smiled and replied that he hasn’t beenteaching to earn gratitude, but for the children’s future.
Hon Chuoi lies 17 nautical miles to the west ofSong Doc Seaport in the southernmost province of Ca Mau./.
VNA
