Mr. Tien: Headmaster holds
door open to ethnic minority students
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Mr. Tien |
“This is Mr Tien. He’s an
ethnic minority,” is how the former Vietnamese headmaster was introduced to
Church World Service’s representative in Vietnam Joanne Fairley. It’s hardly
the first thing you’re told when meeting someone, but Tien’s minority status
was significant for several reasons.
Ethnic minorities make up
about 15 percent of Vietnam’s over 80 million people. They speak more than a
dozen distinct languages and many dialects. Eleven groups have their own
writing systems. Although animistic beliefs are common, a large number are
Catholics or Protestants, while the Khmer practice Buddhism and the Cham are
Hindu or Muslim. Improving services for ethnic minorities has been a CWS
goal since 1990. Before that, the organization had already contributed over
$8 million to the country’s post-war reconstruction. More than two thirds of
its $1.4 million budget for the next three years is aimed at support for
ethnic minority students. |
Mr. Bach Cong Tien, formally
the headmaster of the Ha Tay Ethnic Minority Boarding School, is now the
first from his community to serve as the Vice Chairman on the People’s
Committee of Ba Vi District. As such, he is a member of the official system,
a valuable entry into the highland areas of the north much in need of health
and education services. Tien is also a proud advocate for his former
institution, the only one offering boarding for junior and senior high
school ethnic minority students in an area where an average of 94 percent of
students end their education with secondary school. While most of the 275
schools in the District have poor sanitation, leaking roofs, and badly-lit
classrooms, Tien’s school boasts “a great water system, a phenomenally
developed library, and a fantastic gym,” according to Fairley. “He’s
passionate about providing the best services for his students.”
Tien was promoted to the
District People’s Committee after working at the school for 14 years.
Shortly before his promotion, Tien pushed for support to the Ha Tay Ethnic
Minority Boarding School. He petitioned CWS for a $4000 greenhouse so
children can learn about replanting trees and protecting the environment, a
$22,000 language laboratory, books and teaching aids worth $3,000 and $4,000
in sports equipment. He also wants funding to allow two of his teachers to
get additional training.
The centerpiece of the new
facilities at the school will be a new water filter. The old one, part of a
gravity-fed water system funded by CWS three years ago, filters water
through several layers of sand. It is not efficient in clearing up Giardia
and other minute bacteria. The filter is part of $155,000 upgrade in
education facilities which includes water and sanitation that CWS will
provide in the 3-year current program. In many areas of Ha Tay province,
ground water is not available in the dry season. In communities the
organization is targeting for vital services, 65 percent of the population
does not have access to clean water, leaving children prey to intestinal
parasites and water-related diseases.
For Tien, the water filter is
a toe-hold on the future. “He’s a visionary,” says Fairley. He’s got the
logistics all worked out.” The new filter will make the school one of the
first to close the gap between the seasonal, inadequate water supply system
and the National Strategy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, an
ambitious set of guidelines for rural areas drafted by the government in
consultation with Danish Aid. For the first two years, the guidelines focus
on public places, markets and schools. As new facilities promote
hand-washing and other improvements in hygiene, planners expect
schoolchildren will become vanguards of a new era in health.
Working with Ha Tay Ethnic
Minority Boarding School and other educational facilities for this
disadvantaged community, Fairley is convinced CWS can contribute to the
progress the country is poised to make.
