Vietnam: real lives

Tan Phong primary school, a ChildFund supported work in the Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province of Vietnam has won National Standard Primary School recognition from the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training.

To achieve National Standard School recognition, schools are required to meet strict criteria covering teaching quality and physical infrastructure.
Eight years ago, Tan Phong primary school had 14 ramshackle classrooms made from bamboo supports and a flax roof, where rain could easily find its way inside. The ground beneath the students' feet in the classroom was dirt and in summer, students would almost bake in the 35-370C heat as there was no electricity to power fans.

Bui Thanh Giang, a 12-year-old boy recalls some of the conditions: "The walls of my class were at my height. One day it rained so hard, my teachers asked us to get out of the class in case it collapsed. My table had two big holes in the middle so my notebooks and ink pot often fell down onto the floor and the blackboard was not black but had turned white - it was very hard to see letters on the board."

ChildFund Australia has been working with the local children, teachers and authorities to construct the new school, providing teacher training and support aids, such as textbooks and other classroom equipment.

Children now enjoy going to school and appreciate the new facilities. Bui Thi Thu, a local 11-year-old girl says: "What I hated about my school was that it had no toilet. When we wanted to go to the toilet, we had to look for somewhere deserted, and then wash our hands in a soil canal. We had no boiled water to drink at school. When we were thirsty, we asked for water from nearby households."

As well as the cosmetic and structural improvements to the school, the application of child-centred methodology has made lessons more interesting and is attracting more students to school.

"I used to skip lessons but I don't anymore," says student Giang. "My teachers are very good and we have more games to play during lessons. That's great!"