A strategic initiative
The project to build seven boarding schools (primary and secondary levels) for ethnic minorities in difficult border communes of Gia Lai Province, such as Ia Puch, Ia Mo, Ia O, and Ia Pnon, with a total investment of over 1.5 trillion VND is a strategic initiative for the development of education in the border region.
The projects are expected to meet the learning and living needs of more than 7,100 students in the border area upon completion. But the arrival of the rainy season in the Central Highlands also brings increased worries for teachers and students in the border region. Due to the rugged terrain, difficulties in transportation, soaring material prices, and labour shortages, contractors are facing difficulties.
A survey shows that the overall progress of the project is behind schedule. If the construction is not completed on time, thousands of ethnic minority students here will have to continue studying in communal houses or in cramped temporary classrooms.
Faced with this situation, the Gia Lai Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board launched a comprehensive support campaign in coordination with the 5th Military Region, the Provincial Military Command, and the Provincial Border Guard Command. Over 500 military and border guard officers and soldiers have been directly deployed to the construction sites, creating a sense of urgency and speed in the work.
In Ia Puch Commune, 40 soldiers from the Provincial Border Guard Command worked continuously with construction workers under harsh weather conditions to accelerate the completion of various components.
In Ia Mo Commune, over 80 officers and soldiers from the provincial armed forces, along with local forces (197 in Ia Mo and 250 in Ia Pnon), organised continuous overtime shifts to compensate for the work delays of the past few months.
Captain Siu Thuong, a professional soldier and community mobilization officer at Border Guard Post 729 (Ia Mo Commune), said: “Despite the harsh sun and rain, my comrades and I always stand side-by-side with the local government and people to build schools, demonstrating the spirit of ‘wherever the people are in need, the soldiers are there.’ This is not just about contributing to building a reinforced concrete structure; it is an act of sowing the seeds of knowledge and igniting hope in the border region.”
A command from a soldier’s heart
Identifying the support for school construction as a practical political task, the officers and soldiers have made every effort to complete the project in the final stages. Their nimble hands mix mortar, carry bricks, install electrical and water lines, and lay corrugated iron roofs; whether under the scorching midday sun or in sudden forest rains, the working atmosphere remains full of determination.
The enthusiasm of the soldiers of Uncle Ho's army spread strongly, inspiring the villagers to proactively participate, carrying water, cooking meals, and further strengthening the bond between the military and the people.
In recent days, the working group of the 5th Military Region and the leaders of Gia Lai Province have directly inspected the site, directing contractors to closely coordinate with the military forces to resolve the labour shortage and make the most of the time before the heavy rains continue.
The main goal is to complete the project definitively and ensure quality, handing it over before August 30, in time for the opening ceremony of the 2026-2027 school year.
“Seeing the teachers and children eagerly anticipating the new school, we tell ourselves we must work twice or three times as hard. Just thinking about the opening day and the children sitting in spacious classrooms makes all the fatigue disappear,” shared Corporal Ha Manh Hung, a soldier at Border Guard Post 717 (Ia O Commune).
Colonel Tran Tien Hai, Commander of the Gia Lai Provincial Border Guard, emphasised that the construction of multi-level boarding schools in border communes is a very apt policy with practical and long-term significance, especially for border areas.
Building educational facilities not only creates better learning conditions for children of ethnic minorities in border regions, but it also contributes to raising the intellectual level of the people, consolidating national unity, and building a strong foundation of public support.
This is an opportunity for officers and soldiers to uphold the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers”, clearly demonstrating their role, responsibility, and affection for the people in border areas, in accordance with the traditional motto of “The outpost is our home, the border is our homeland, and the people of all ethnic groups are our brothers and sisters.”
The armed forces are determined to closely coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to accelerate construction progress, improve the quality of the project, and strive to complete the project before the start of the new school year.
According to Lam Hai Giang, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee, public investment projects are currently being implemented simultaneously in seven border communes. Due to the almost complete lack of local manpower, the province has had to mobilise additional labour from within and outside the province.
However, compared to the required progress, this workforce is still insufficient. Given this situation, the province continues to closely coordinate with the Army, Police, and Border Guard units in the area to provide manpower support.
To date, all seven school sites have involved the participation of armed forces, including the 5th Military Region, the 34th Army Corps, the Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Police, and the Provincial Border Guard. Each school site has mobilised 50 to 100 officers and soldiers to support the contractors directly involved in the construction.
“With strong political determination, decisive leadership from the Party committee and government, and active participation from the armed forces, the provincial leadership is confident that the projects will be implemented smoothly and completed on schedule, ready for handover to serve the new school year,” Lam Hai Giang emphasised.
Helping the people expedite the progress of educational projects demonstrates the border guard force's shared responsibility with the community. The bricks and walls built with the sweat of the soldiers will be a solid foundation, helping border students confidently move towards the future, while also contributing to building increasingly strong “people’s support” in the nation's border regions.
The bricks and walls built with the sweat of soldiers will be a solid foundation, helping border students confidently move towards the future, while contributing to building increasingly strong “people’s support” in the nation’s border regions.
