The Da Tay Primary School

At Da Tay A Primary School, Nguyen Cong Qua teaches the 4th graders to read and understand a lesson in Vietnamese, checks the handwriting of the 1st graders, and corrects the math exercise of the 3rd graders.

On the remote islands, one teacher has to teach students at all levels from preschool to fifth grade at the same time.  

Despite the challenge, Qua volunteered to teach on Truong Sa five years ago because he wanted to bring knowledge to islanders. After four years at Sinh Ton Island Primary School, Qua was sent to Da Tay A Island Primary School. He said he feels honored to work on Truong Sa and has always done his best for the island students.

The biggest difficulty is that the children are of different ages, said Qua, adding, “In addition to teaching academic subjects, we organize extracurricular activities to educate them to love the sea and islands and Vietnam.”

“Every weekend we teach the 4th and 5th graders IT and English so that after completing primary school on the island, they will have the same knowledge and skills as their peers on the mainland and can become useful citizens,” Qua noted.

Students take a break at Sinh Ton Primary School

Pham Xuan Dieu has taught for years at Sinh Ton Primary School on Sinh Ton Island. Without Internet access, teaching and learning are difficult. But Dieu and other teachers have found creative ways to help their students progress. As a result, students who finish primary school on the island are qualified to enroll in 6th grade on the mainland.

Dieu told VOV, “First, it’s my passion to teach children. Second, I feel I can help the island child. It’s a great honor to teach on Truong Sa.”

Teachers consider the Truong Sa archipelago their home, treat their students like their own children, and devote themselves to fostering their growth. Generations of students have grown up surrounded by the love of their family, teachers, and the naval soldiers stationed there.

Vo Truc Quynh, a 3rd grader at Sinh Ton Primary School, said, “All the teachers are easy to understand. They are very attentive to us. I try to study well so as not to disappoint my teacher.”

Le Thi Kim Thu, a 5th grader at Da Tay A Primary School, said, “Each day I study from 7 to 10 in the morning and 2 to 4 in the afternoon. The lessons are easy to understand. I love living on Truong Sa islands. I love the naval soldiers. I’ll study hard in order to become a useful citizen for the Fatherland.”

On this remote archipelago with spiritual and material deprivation, the teachers' greatest joy is their students, who are obedient, study hard, and are acquiring important life skills. The children are smart, eager to learn, and know many songs and poems about President Ho Chi Minh, the homeland, and Truong Sa archipelago.

Love of the sea and islands and the homeland and their professionalism enable teachers like Nguyen Cong Qua, Pham Xuan Dieu, and others to feel a sense of unity with their island students. They are helping the children of families who are contributing to the defense of the sacred sovereignty of Vietnam’s sea and islands.