In Trường Sa, classrooms are truly unique, with students from grades 1 to 5 all learning together in the same room. — Photos vov.vn

TRƯỜNG SA ISLANDS — In a classroom surrounded by sea and sky, the Vietnamese national anthem rises against the crash of waves.

It is a moment both tender and powerful, a symbol of resilience in one of the most remote classrooms in the country, Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands.

Trường Sa Islands lies hundreds of nautical miles from the mainland. Every textbook, piece of chalk and computer must journey by ship to reach these outposts of education.

In this harsh yet sacred frontier, teachers like Bùi Tiến Anh are not only educators, they are quiet warriors.

“I teach all five primary year levels in a single room,” said Anh, a young teacher who volunteered to work at Song Tử Tây Primary School just after graduating.

“This is a ‘five-in-one’ class. My desk is filled with textbooks from year one to year five, and even toys for the little ones," he told the Voice of Vietnam.

Now in his second year on the island, with three more ahead, Anh handles multiple roles.

“Here, teachers must wear many hats. We teach, care for the children like nursery carers, and take on tasks that go far beyond a conventional classroom,” he said. “Conditions are tough, but we always find ways to make learning work.”

Before setting foot on the island, Anh trained both mind and body for the challenge.

“The love I have for my students deepens every day. When I miss home or feel overwhelmed, it’s their smiles and the warmth from families here that keep me going.”

He proudly said his students are bright, disciplined, and respectful, no different from their peers on the mainland.

“But teaching here demands flexibility. I must adjust lessons to suit each age group, academic level, and the emotional needs of children from six to eleven.”

One of his biggest wishes is for island children to one day have access to foreign language and computer lessons.

“Without internet or English classes, they struggle when they return to the mainland for secondary school,” he said. “They’re at a disadvantage and that’s something I hope will change.”

Hồ Đinh Hoàng Đông Bắc, a second grader, said: "I love my teacher very much. He takes care of us, teaches us, makes us toys and even shows us every plant and corner of the island.”

"I’m only eight now, but I want to grow up fast,” he said. “One day, I want to be a lobster diver or a soldier, guarding this sea and protecting our homes and school.”

Teacher Lê Xuân Hạnh with his students.

Further south, in Trường Sa Town, another remarkable educator carries on the same mission.

Lê Xuân Hạnh, a veteran teacher from Cam Lâm, Khánh Hòa Province, has just over five years before retirement — but he volunteered for island duty, driven not by duty alone, but by a desire for understanding and experience.

“I didn’t come here to be brave or to sacrifice anything grand,” said Hạnh, who spent 15 years teaching in remote, ethnic communities.

“I wanted to live this life, learn about Trường Sa and share stories from the mainland with the children.”

He said he had known island life would be difficult, but after decades of teaching, there was nothing he felt he could not handle. Although his family had been hesitant at first, he managed to convince them, as he wanted the experience for himself and for the stories he hoped to share with his grandchildren one day.

“I still have three more years before retirement. When I teach again, I won’t need books. I’ll simply tell my students about Trường Sa from my own eyes, from my own life.”

“Hạnh teacher is like a grandfather. He’s funny and kind. He visits us when we’re sick, plays with us, gives us toys. I love learning maths and literature with him," said Lê Thị Kim Duyên, a third grader.

For the teachers of Trường Sa, every child’s progress is a reward far greater than recognition. In classrooms surrounded by water and wind, they are guardians not only of knowledge, but of the country’s maritime frontier. — VNS