Education sector joins hands to share with people affected by natural disasters

Responding to the call of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, with the responsibility and spirit of joining the whole country in the Northern provinces and cities, towards the people, soldiers, teachers and students who suffered losses due to storms and floods, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Vietnam Education Trade Union launched the education sector to support the people affected by storm No. 3 (Yagi). Immediately after the launching ceremony, the entire education sector actively supported in many forms.

The Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade broke the piggy bank to support the people and students in the North who suffered losses due to storm No. 3. Photo: THANH HUNG

Actively respond

Speaking at the launching ceremony on September 11, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son called on: “The entire education sector, officials, civil servants, employees, students, and organizations and individuals inside and outside the sector, please join hands, contribute materially, spiritually, with support, encouragement, and connections to share the difficulties with people in flood-hit areas in general and with the education sector of the northern provinces and cities in particular. The support will be delivered to those in need as quickly as possible. In particular, priority will be given to human support. First of all, it will be for teachers and students.”

Immediately after the launching ceremony, leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, units and individuals inside and outside the education sector donated a total of more than 6.6 billion VND. Currently, the Vietnam Education Trade Union continues to receive support from organizations and individuals.

On September 13, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade counted the contributions of the school's staff, lecturers and employees to support the people of the North at nearly 400 million VND. The school's Youth Union called on students to donate 5 million VND by smashing piggy banks.

Last weekend, 28 lanterns that won the highest prizes in the Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Design Contest organized by Nguyen Hue Primary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) were auctioned at the first parent-teacher meeting of the school year, to raise funds to support people in the North affected by storms and floods.

Previously, Ms. Bui Thi Thanh, the school's principal, sent an open letter to all parents to call on the school to join hands in contributing and supporting people in the northern provinces to quickly overcome the consequences, stabilize their lives, and help children in flood-affected areas have a warm mid-autumn festival and return to school soon.

At the end of the auction, the entire donation of more than 110 million VND was transferred by the school to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

In a different way, Tran Hung Dao Primary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) spread the spirit of "Children do small things" through organizing activities for students to donate to help people in the northern provinces affected by storm No. 3.

In the middle of the school yard, two donation boxes and a row of tables are neatly arranged so that students can put on them notebooks, instant noodles, candy, fresh milk, mini gas stoves or any gifts they want to give to people in flood-hit areas...

As of September 14, 100% of Nguyen Tat Thanh University staff and lecturers have responded and donated a total of VND691,315,000 in the first round. The school will transfer VND200 million to the account of the Ministry of Education and Training's Trade Union to support the education sector in affected areas.

The remaining amount will be transferred by the school to the authorities and delivered directly to the people of the North to promptly share and support people to quickly overcome the consequences caused by storm No. 3.

Scholarship support

Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics has implemented the programs "Support Scholarship" and "Extension of Tuition Payment Time" to support students in the Northern provinces affected by storm No. 3.

Accordingly, the school will award 100 scholarships, each worth 10 million VND, to disadvantaged students of classes 47, 48, 49, and 50 with permanent residence in 26 northern localities directly affected by storm No. 3, including: Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Son La, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hanoi, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Vinh Phuc, Thanh Hoa. Students complete their application and register online at the school's website (https://student.ueh.edu.vn/) from September 12 to September 25, 2024.

Teachers and students of Kien Thiet Secondary School (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) support people in the North affected by storms and floods. Photo: THU TAM

According to Professor Su Dinh Thanh, President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, to support all students and families in the 26 provinces and cities above to reduce financial pressure during the current difficult time, the school also extended the tuition payment deadline for the first semester of 2025 to January 15, 2025.

In addition to the programs to accompany and support learners, promoting the tradition of "Mutual love and affection" with the spirit of "understanding, sympathy, sharing", the Party Committee, Board of Directors and Trade Union of the school also called on all officials and employees to join hands to support at least 1 day's salary to support people in the Northern provinces and cities to quickly overcome the damage caused by storms and floods, helping people restore production and stabilize their lives.

Meanwhile, on September 13, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) announced the cancellation of the opening ceremony (scheduled to be held on September 27). Associate Professor, Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, Principal of the school, said that although all the organization work for the opening ceremony program has been almost completed, the school realized that sharing and supporting the community at this time is necessary, so it decided to cancel the opening ceremony for the 2024-2025 school year.

The entire estimated budget for the opening ceremony (VND 100,000,000) will be transferred to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to encourage and support people in the Northern provinces to overcome the consequences of natural disasters. In addition, the school has launched and is calling on officials, employees, and students to continue to contribute support.

Mr. NGUYEN VAN HIEU, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City:

Widely disseminate the purpose and meaning of the support campaign.

The campaign demonstrates the spirit of solidarity, sharing, mutual love and affection of cadres, teachers, workers and students to provide timely support to people in the Northern provinces who are seriously affected by storm No. 3; including the team of teachers, cadres, teachers, staff, students and students working, studying and teaching in the Northern provinces.

Each locality and school needs to organize extensive propaganda among cadres, teachers, workers, students, and trainees about the purpose and meaning of this movement.

Each cadre, teacher, and worker supports voluntarily. Students and pupils contribute from their breakfast savings or other savings.

The head of the unit coordinates with the grassroots trade union to mobilize cadres, teachers, and workers. The Youth Union is responsible for mobilizing students through propaganda and organizing a fundraising festival in the spirit of calling for voluntary participation.

MSc. PHUNG QUAN, Head of Administrative Organization Department, University of Science (Ho Chi Minh City National University):

Call for support for Northern compatriots in the opening ceremony

During the opening ceremony held on September 15, the University of Natural Sciences (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) issued a notice calling on all delegates, guests, officials, employees and students to attend the opening ceremony to turn towards the North with the most practical actions.

The school would like to not accept congratulatory flowers from agencies, units, and partners at the opening ceremony. Instead, the school would like units and individuals to transfer the cost of giving flowers to the fund of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

MSc. PHAM THAI SON, Director of Admissions and Communications Center (Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade):

Students warn against taking advantage of flood situation for personal gain

Currently, on social networking sites, there is a lot of fake information calling for support and contributions for the people in the North affected by storms and floods. Therefore, students should be wary of this fake information.

Students should support and contribute to trustworthy organizations and units such as: Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; or official press offices such as Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Thanh Nien Newspaper...; or through the school's call for support, but should not support fake benefactors.

Support must be in the right place and with the right organization to be truly effective and reach the right people in need of support.

THANH HUNG - THU TAM

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nganh-giao-duc-chung-tay-se-chia-voi-dong-bao-bi-thien-tai-post759094.html