Students at Khánh Hòa Rehabilitation and Education Centre for Children with Disabilities at the weekly flag salute. — VNA/VNS Photos Phan Sáu

KHÁNH HÒA — Almost every school in Việt Nam starts the week with a flag salute that gathers all of its teachers and students. But at Khánh Hòa Rehabilitation and Education Centre for Children with Disabilities, it's a little different as the national anthem is signed.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc, department head for the second and third grades for children with intellectual disabilities, said that while school activities are selected based on the health conditions of the students, it takes quite some practice and teachers’ assistance until the children can participate in each activity with ease.

For the ceremonial drum team for the weekly flag salute, teachers spent a whole year with regular training sessions so that the students could play at the right rhythm.

A classroom using sign language for students with hearing impairment at Khánh Hòa Rehabilitation and Education Centre for Children with Disabilities.

While there are numerous challenges, seeing the children each day at school brings great joy for Trúc.

The encouragement and companionship of her colleagues also gives her the motivation to continue her decade-long career in special education, she said.

At the central Khánh Hòa Province's Rehabilitation and Education Centre for Children with Disabilities, lessons are delivered not only through visuals, sounds and written texts but also sign language.

In a fourth-grade class for students with hearing impairment led by Trần Thị Mỹ Dạ, children learn about the Vietnamese traditional dress áo dài through a slideshow and communicate with their teacher using hand gestures.

This level of learning skills is the result of a tremendous effort and practice of the students with their family members and teachers at the centre.

In addition to the standard classes according to the general education programme, with adjustments for people with disabilities, children are also offered career orientation advice.

Mỹ Dạ told the Vietnam News Agency: “We hope that every student with disabilities, once they leave the centre, can take good care of themselves and secure a job to earn a living. That would be our joy.”

Trương Hoài Lương, a teacher for children with intellectual disabilities at the centre, at first only thinks of his job as a match for his major in special education and a way to make ends meet.

But his fondness and empathy with the children and their families has grown as he works with them.

From the initial struggle in 2017 when he first took over the job and the children were not able to keep personal hygiene, they have now formed a daily routine for themselves.

Lượng said that teachers need to have affection for their students and see them as members of their own family, only then can they provide thorough and thoughtful care for the children.

Each of the teacher’s affectionate actions is a great source of encouragement to help the child regulate their emotions, and then imitate and learn what they are taught.

According to Lượng, when a student with intellectual abilities are unable to control their behaviours, they will get into a temper and hurt themselves or other children. At that moment, it is the teacher who must console and guide them.

He said: “Our centre’s motto is: Help the children, and they will help themselves. I always take this as my guidance every day when I enter the classroom.”

In the 2023-2024 academic year, Khánh Hòa Rehabilitation and Education Centre for Children with Disabilities admitted 145 students, of which 101 have intellectual disabilities and 44 have hearing or speaking impairments.

They can complete the curriculum for Grade 1 to 5 within 10 years, and will graduate once they attain the primary school knowledge level.

Siblings Lê Thị Quỳnh, 16, and Lê Thị Quỳnh Trang, 14, are hearing impaired and have been studying at the centre since 2016.

From Monday to Friday every week, their mother would take them from Ninh Hòa Commune, almost 40km away from the centre, to go to school.

Through written notes and sign language, Quỳnh expressed her fondness towards her teachers.

She learns new knowledge every day when she comes to the centre, and hopes to pursue secondary education for children with disabilities once she finishes the primary curriculum here.

Phan Thị Ngọc Sinh, the centre’s deputy director said: “Each action of encouragement is of great benefit for children with disabilities.

“They can feel the affection of their teachers and families, and will make more efforts to overcome their challenges.

Khánh Hòa Department of Health will also coordinate with the centre in international cooperation programmes related to children with disabilities, which will allow them to access treatment and education in an environment that suits their needs, according to the department’s deputy director Lê Văn Khoa. — VNS