Preserving cultural identity in schools

Bringing the cultural identity of local ethnic groups into school teaching is the method that Than Uyen district (Lai Chau) has been implementing to maintain, preserve and promote the traditional culture of ethnic groups for today's young generation.

Panpipe dance class of 3rd grade students at Ta Mung Primary Boarding School.

Ta Mung Primary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, Ta Mung Commune is a unit that has effectively implemented the work of bringing the cultural identity of indigenous ethnic groups into teaching in extracurricular classes. Although there is no budget to purchase costumes, musical instruments... as teaching aids, practice and build a cultural display space, in order to soon bring them into teaching, teachers and students have mobilized and established clubs to preserve and promote ethnic cultural identity such as Embroidery, Literature and Arts, Tu Lu, Khen dance, flute playing...; at the same time, regularly organize art competitions to preserve and promote ethnic cultural identity; classroom decoration competitions associated with preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity.

Class time of embroidery club for grade 5, Ta Mung Primary Boarding School.

Not only that, all classes organize community corner displays, organize folk games in between classes; schoolyard singing and dancing activities; songs, xoè dances, bamboo dances, and khen dances of the Thai and H'Mong ethnic groups... These practical activities not only help students understand the cultural identity of their own ethnic group but also help them exchange and learn more about the cultural identity of other ethnic groups. Lo Thi Ngoc, a student of class 5A2, said: In addition to studying the main subjects, I also learn embroidery and sewing, learn Thai dances, learn to throw Pao from H'Mong friends... We are divided into groups to introduce ourselves about the tools, costumes, musical instruments... of our ethnic group; sometimes during extracurricular hours, I am also taken by teachers to the nearby market to watch and exchange performances with the uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters from other villages performing at the market. Thanks to that, we not only understand our Thai ethnic culture, but also learn about the cultures of other ethnic groups.

Ms. Cu Thi Sau (a local resident) was invited to instruct students in the embroidery club of Ta Mung Primary Boarding School.

Ms. Cu Thi Sau in Ho Ta village, Ta Mung commune, is a retired commune cadre. For the past four years, she has been invited by Ta Mung Primary Boarding School to instruct the school's embroidery club as an artisan. As a local, proficient in embroidery and sewing, the extracurricular classes of the club that Ms. Sau participates in are always welcomed and responded to by female students. Although she does not receive any allowance or support, Ms. Sau still regularly comes to instruct the club twice a week. Ms. Sau shared: I come to instruct the children to sew belts, shirt hems... and to embroider ethnic motifs on dresses and skirts, which is very happy. Here, I instruct not only H'Mong children but also Thai students to learn how to sew and embroider traditional ethnic motifs; in return, H'Mong children learn other traditional cultural values ​​of the Thai people from other classes, which is very meaningful. Currently, all 23 primary and secondary schools in Than Uyen district have established clubs to preserve and promote ethnic cultural identity with more than 7,000 students participating; 22 out of 35 schools have built their own Cultural Spaces, the remaining schools have integrated cultural spaces in the "Community Corner" of the library or in the classroom. On average, schools organize at least once a week cultural and folk art activities during the flag-raising ceremonies at the beginning of the week, during break-time activities, major holidays, and after-school educational activities. All managers, teachers, staff and 80% of students who are ethnic minorities wear their ethnic costumes on holidays, during the flag-raising ceremony at the beginning of the week...

Learning Thai ethnic dance by 9th grade students of Ta Mung Secondary School.

Mr. Doan Van Dat, Head of the Department of Education and Training of Than Uyen district, said: To achieve the above results, the Department has implemented many solutions, including directing schools to develop annual implementation plans at schools; promoting so that artisans, people, and parents of students understand the culture of ethnic groups and participate in cultural preservation activities at schools; at the same time, organizing training for core teams of schools, inviting artisans from the district's Cultural and Folk Arts Conservation Club to directly teach classes. Not only that, the district also directed schools to continue to establish clubs to preserve ethnic cultural identities, and the clubs are divided into different interest groups. Schools implement teaching that integrates the content of preserving ethnic cultures in the main curriculum, in the local education program, and in extracurricular activities. In addition, direct schools to build a space to preserve ethnic cultures, where cultural products of ethnic groups will be displayed and used as a venue for clubs and a place to teach students the good traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic groups.

Tran Tuan and Thai Thinh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bao-ton-ban-sac-van-hoa-tu-trong-truong-hoc-post843291.html