Heartbreaking lunch of students in the mountainous area of ​​Quang Ngai

Located at the foot of Ca Dam mountain, the kindergarten of Group 7, Que village (a separate school of Tra Bui kindergarten - Tra Bui commune, Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province) is the place of study for 17 children of the Cor ethnic group.

At lunchtime, the children brought out from their schoolbags the meals their parents had prepared early in the morning, stored in old plastic boxes, to the dining table.

Teacher Pham Thi Thu Trang shares some rice with children who do not bring rice to class. Photo: Nguyen Ngoc

This afternoon, the kindergarten in Group 7, Que village, had 15 children in class, but only 13 had lunch boxes, 2 children did not bring lunch. "It seems like every day there are a few children who do not bring lunch, but the children are very conscious of sharing. A little rice, a piece of dried fish, a tiny piece of meat is also shared, little by little," said teacher Pham Thi Thu Trang.

Looking at the lunch of the children in Kindergarten Group 7 of Que Village, I felt so sorry. In the lunch box, there was only a little white rice, wild vegetables, and salt. The most “luxurious” child only had a piece of dried fish, a tiny piece of meat. Just like that, the children happily shared and devoured it deliciously.

The children's meal at the kindergarten in Group 7, Que village consists of only a few pieces of wild vegetables... Photo: Nguyen Ngoc

“Every time I see the children sitting down to eat, I feel sorry. One day I saw a child picking up a few pieces of vegetables from the box over and over again. When I asked, she said she was saving them to eat for a long time… Today’s lunch was quite luxurious, some children had meat and fish to eat. There were days when the whole class ate wild vegetables, sesame salt, some children ate coarse salt. Because I love my students, every time I come from the lowlands, I spend my own money to buy instant noodles, eggs, and fish in case the children don’t have anything to eat,” Ms. Trang confided.

In fact, meals for students in the highlands of Quang Ngai have been supported by government policies and programs, but there are still many difficulties. The boarding support policy only applies to a few cases, the rest of the students have to prepare and bring meals from home, and all the families are poor, so the meals are only enough to prevent hunger.

The most "luxurious" portion of food only has a few pieces of dried fish as big as a fingertip... Photo: Nguyen Ngoc

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam - Principal of Tra Bui Kindergarten shared that the school has 1 main campus and 5 satellite campuses, with a total of 165 children. The children's family circumstances are very difficult, each month the children will receive money for lunch and study according to Decree 105 and 81. However, the money is distributed periodically, at the end of each semester, parents will receive it once. Parents will receive that money, then cook and bring rice to the children.

“Boarding is only for students at the main school. Because the satellite schools have inadequate facilities and very few students, from 14 to 17 children and 1 teacher, cooking for the students is impossible. The school also regularly calls for support from benefactors... however, it can only support a small part, the rest is up to the families to take care of themselves,” said Ms. Tam.

Lunch for students in grades 1 to 3 at Que village school. Photo: Nguyen Ngoc

In addition to preschool, Que village school also has 32 students from grades 1 to 3. Their lunch is the same as preschool, just a few pieces of wild vegetables...

In charge of a third grade class of 12 students, Ms. Do Thi Ha is all too familiar with sharing her lunch with her students. However, the lunch of teachers in mountainous areas like Ms. Ha sometimes consists of just a pack of instant noodles.

“The children’s lives here are very difficult. 90% of their families are poor, so they are very deprived. How can they have enough nutrition to develop with such food? I feel sorry for them, but the teachers are also suffering, so they can’t help much…”, Ms. Ha said sadly.

The children shared the delicious meal. Photo: Nguyen Ngoc

The innocent eyes of the children. Photo: Nguyen Ngoc

Many teachers, out of love for their students, spent their own money to buy more soy sauce, fish sauce, fish, eggs... Occasionally, a group of volunteers would visit, bringing rice, instant noodles, canned meat... At those times, the children were very happy, eating deliciously as if they were attending a party. But then the next day, they would return to reality with a meal of salt and wild vegetables.

Mr. Nguyen Van Viet - Vice Principal of Tra Bui Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities said that the school has 1 main campus and 3 satellite campuses with 375 students from grades 1-9. Most of the students of the school are in difficult circumstances, especially those at the 3 satellite campuses. The lack of living and eating conditions greatly affects the health and learning of the students.

Nguyen Ngoc

Source: https://tienphong.vn/xot-xa-bua-com-trua-cua-hoc-sinh-vung-cao-quang-ngai-post1729230.tpo