One evening in the mountains of the Northwest, the sound of reading lessons echoed in the classroom at Tong Lanh Primary School, Thuan Chau District (Son La). The special thing is that the students of the class are Thai and Mong ethnic men, women, aunts and uncles from 16 villages in the commune...

Comrade Lo Thi Thuy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tong Lanh Commune, shared: "To maintain the class, we coordinate with the Commune Education Promotion Association to organize the class, and at the same time go to families to encourage people to attend the class. Each student will be supported with 10,000 VND/session and books, pens. Thanks to that, more and more people are attending the class."

Thai language class at the Community Learning Center of Chieng Bom commune, Thuan Chau district (Son La).

Not only the class in Tong Lanh commune, Thuan Chau district also maintains 7 literacy classes in the communes of Ban Lam, Thom Mon, Pung Tra... with more than 450 students. This is the result of close coordination between the Association for the Promotion of Education at all levels and the Department of Education and Training of Thuan Chau district in implementing the Program "Promoting lifelong learning movement in families, clans, communities, and units for the period 2021-2030" according to Decision No. 387/QD-TTg dated March 25, 2022 of the Prime Minister. These classes not only help people become literate but also open up opportunities to access new knowledge, helping to improve their lives and better integrate into the community.

Over the years, the Provincial Association for Promotion of EducationSon Lahas become an “extended arm” bringing knowledge to people in all villages. Currently, more than 81% of families in the province have achieved the title of “Learning Family”, 74% of clans have been recognized as “Learning Clans” and 88% of communities have met the standards of “Learning Community”. Comrade Mai Thu Huong, President of the Son La Province Association for the Promotion of Education, said: “These figures are not only results, but also motivation for the Association to continue to expand the learning movement throughout the province. We not only encourage learning in the family but also bring learning to the community, creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to learn and develop”.

In 2024 alone, the Son La Provincial Association for Promotion of Education mobilized more than 31.8 billion VND from organizations and individuals inside and outside the province to award thousands of scholarships, build classrooms, and support people in remote areas to access education. Not only stopping at literacy classes, community learning centers in Son La are also becoming a source of knowledge for people. With 204 centers spread across communes, wards, and towns, this is where courses are organized from farming and animal husbandry skills to applying technology to life. These centers are also places to preserve culture, where ancient stories and folk songs are told and taught to the younger generation, thereby preserving the culture of ethnic groups, creating a connection between generations.

Literacy class for women in Lay village, Tan Xuan commune, Van Ho district (Son La).

Comrade Mai Thu Huong added that teachingtraditional cultureEthnic groups not only help children understand more about their origins, but also a way to arouse national pride. When children can speak the language of their grandparents, traditional values ​​will be preserved forever. In particular, these classes are not only for children but also open to the elderly and civil servants. This is a strategic step in connecting the community and preserving local culture.

In addition, the Son La Provincial Association for Promotion of Education has also built a model of “Intellectual House” to create a flexible learning space for people. Here, they can read books, study online or participate in cultural and sports activities. To date, the province has had 112 “Intellectual Houses” in operation, becoming a symbol of the spirit of continuous learning. With efforts in promoting learning and talent, the light of knowledge has been changing the lives of many people in remote villages. This is not only the pride of Son La, but also a valuable lesson about the power of solidarity and consensus in the journey to build a learning society.

According to: People's Army Newspaper