Teacher Phạm Phương Anh with students during an English class. — VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Quyết

HÀ TĨNH — While many children spend their summer holidays playing or staying at home, about 80 disadvantaged students in Hà Tĩnh Province are attending free classes at a local Buddhist pagoda.

The Trung Tâm Pagoda in Kỳ Châu residential area, Sông Trí Ward, offers classes in mathematics, literature and English throughout the summer. The classes are run with the support of the pagoda and taught by local teachers, who volunteer their time without pay.

The programme aims to help students review what they have learned, gain new knowledge, and prepare for the coming school year. Among those attending are students preparing to enter grades 6 and 9.

In the quiet surroundings of the pagoda, the classrooms are filled with the sound of lessons and exchanges between teachers and students.

Phạm Thảo My, who has just finished primary school, said the classes have given her more time to practise maths, review lessons, and meet other children her age.

She said she feels more confident in the subject and has made new friends to study and play with, while spending less time on electronic devices.

For Trần Thị Thanh Hoa of Hải Ninh Ward, the classes provide a chance to review old lessons and learn new material ahead of the new school year and upcoming exams.

The free programme has also helped ease some of the financial pressure on her family, while giving her a more productive summer.

Hà Văn Phong Phú of Sông Trí Ward said the classes had taught him more than just academic knowledge.

He said he still has time to play during the summer, but follows a regular study schedule and has more opportunities to meet friends, review his lessons, and prepare for the new school year.

The programme is particularly meaningful for children from families facing financial difficulties, as it helps reduce the cost of additional summer classes.

Among the teachers volunteering at the pagoda is Phạm Phương Anh of Kỳ Trinh Primary School in Sông Trí Ward.

Anh said that throughout her teaching career, she has seen many students who are eager to learn but whose families cannot afford private tutoring.

When Venerable Thích Giác Phương, the abbot of Trung Tâm Pagoda, told her about his plan to start a free English class for students during the summer, she agreed to take part.

What has pleased her most is seeing changes in the students’ daily habits, Anh said.

Instead of spending much of their free time on mobile phones or watching television, some students have begun developing regular study habits. They practise vocabulary, review lessons on their own, and look forward to returning to class.

The changes may appear small, but Anh said that over time they can become positive habits.

For her, seeing those changes has been one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering at the pagoda.

The free classes were established on Phương's initiative. The abbot said he wanted to provide a place where children facing difficult circumstances could continue learning during the summer.

“We have always wanted to establish a model and a free class where the children can have access to education,” he said.

The programme is intended not only to provide academic knowledge, but also to create a space where students can learn about ethics, character and personal values, including respect and gratitude for their parents, he added. — VNS