Teacher Nguyễn Xuân Khang, chairman of the Marie Curie School board in Hà Nội. Photo kinhtedothi.vn

HÀ NỘI - The Phúc Khánh primary and secondary school No. 1 in Bảo Yên District, Lào Cai Province has 20 students who were affected by a flash flood and landslides in Nủ Village on September 10.

Out of the 20 names listed by the school, seven are highlighted in yellow, indicating that they are flash flood survivors. The other 13 children will never come back to attend classes.

“Every time I look at that list, I burst into tears,” said teacher Nguyễn Xuân Khang, chairman of the Marie Curie School board in Hà Nội.

After reading an article in Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper about Nguyễn Văn Hành, a 12th grader who lost all of his family members in the Nủ Village flash flood, Khang immediately contacted the reporter and said “I want to help him.”

He connected with Hành’s teacher and asked her to encourage the little boy to finish grade 12 and continue his studies in higher education.

“I will cover all of his living and tuition expenses until he can find a job,” Khang said.

“Nothing can mentally make up for his loss. But I can help him continue his studies,” the teacher added.

“I told him to call me ‘grandfather’ as he is just one year older than my youngest grandchild. I also told the teachers to open a bank account so that I can transfer the money to Hành every month... and also a phone too so that we can talk together,” Khang said.

Nguyễn Văn Hành getting treated at a hospital in Bảo Yên District. Photo thanhnien.vn

Khang also decided to adopt and cover the monthly expenses for all of the children in Nủ Village who survived the flash flood until they are 18 years old.

He has committed to a monthly payment of VNĐ3 million per child.

Khang said: “Reading stories about children who suddenly lost parents, I could not help but feel sorry and want to do something.”

“I think we need to give compensation to the children.”

The teacher is well known for his previous charity projects for students living in mountainous areas.

In February this year, he spent VNĐ100 billion building a school for students in the border district of Mèo Vạc in Hà Giang Province.

In 2021, as part of a national project to plant one billion trees, Khang grew 20,000 Sa Mộc trees in Khâu Vai Commune, Hà Giang Province and this year he will plant 30,000 others.

He also established a project to help students in Mèo Vạc District learn English.

Under the project, 30 teachers who want to become English teachers will be trained and sent to study English at universities.

These teachers will be appointed to teach English to students in the area after graduation.

During the four years of their university education, Marie Curie School will provide scholarships for the 30 students to cover their living expenses and study materials. The project aims to create a stable and long-term source of English teachers for Mèo Vạc District, addressing the root issue of the teacher shortage.

Teacher Nguyễn Xuân Khang hails from central Nghệ An Province.

After retiring from teaching physics, he founded the Marie Curie School, which teaches students at the primary, middle and high school levels.

In his leadership role at Marie Curie School, Khang has made many creative innovations in teaching and learning management.

He was honoured as one of 10 outstanding residents of Hà Nội in 2022. VNS