New School Construction in Lao Cai Border Area Fosters Dreams of Young Learners

In the border region of Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, the construction of the Pha Long Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School is nearing completion, promising improved educational facilities for local children. Despite the early morning mist, the sounds of construction machinery echo across the site, signaling progress towards realizing the dream of a modern school for students in the highlands. This school, one of the earliest initiated in Lao Cai's border areas, has been under construction for over eight months and is rapidly taking shape. Spread across nearly 8 hectares, the school complex features buildings with striking red and green tin roofs, creating a vibrant tapestry against the border sky. Excavators are leveling the ground, while workers diligently install windows, complete walls, and paint various sections, all working towards the goal of timely completion. Nguyen An Ninh, Site Commander from Truong Son Construction Corporation (under the Ministry of Defense), reported that over 450 engineers and workers are deployed across multiple work fronts. They are working with a spirit of overcoming challenges, accelerating tasks during favorable weather and focusing on interior work during rainy periods to maintain both quality and schedule. Giang Thuy, the Vice Principal, expressed her joy while observing the progress. Having dedicated nearly 20 years to education in the area, she has witnessed students endure long, arduous journeys over slippery mountain paths to reach school. The new, well-equipped campus will provide a much better learning and living environment, offering adequate accommodation, reading spaces, physical activity areas, and experiential learning opportunities. She also noted that the upgraded facilities will enable teachers to innovate their teaching methods and integrate information technology, thereby enhancing educational outcomes. Trang Lao Cui, a local resident whose two children attend the school, has taken time off from his work to contribute to the construction. "We've never had a school this grand in Pha Long before; we only saw such schools in the city," he shared. "Now, our children will have better learning conditions, and I am very happy." Pha Long Commune is proactively preparing for the school's operation. The Commune People's Committee has established the school, reviewed and arranged teaching staff, and developed plans for boarding management and facility utilization. Student enrollment is also underway, with over 1,000 applications received for the planned 28 classes, which will accommodate 980 students. Pham Tat Minh, Chairman of the Pha Long Commune People's Committee, stated that the new school will allow highland students to study and live better within their locality. This will reduce the hardship of long commutes for students from remote villages, thereby curbing dropout rates and improving educational quality. He added that better care for children will enable families to focus on their livelihoods, stabilize their lives, and contribute to national border defense. The Pha Long school is one of eight such boarding schools being built in Lao Cai's border communes. Four are scheduled for completion and use in the 2026-2027 academic year. To ensure timely progress, the Provincial People's Committee has launched a "100-Day High-Intensity Campaign" to complete the construction of boarding schools in four border communes—Y Ty, Pha Long, A Mu Sung, and Muong Khuong—by August 30th, ensuring readiness for the new academic year. As these new schools on the border near completion, the sound of the opening bell will soon welcome students into modern, well-equipped classrooms. From these schools, a new chapter will unfold, providing children of ethnic minority groups in the highlands with opportunities to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams right in their homeland. Information Source: Nhan Dan