In the absence of roads, Mekong Delta grandparents row kids to school

By Chuc Ly   December 6, 2024 | 07:31 pm PT
In Ca Mau, Vietnam's southernmost province, the lack of roads in remote areas means many old people have to drive boats to ensure their grandchildren can attend school.

More than 1,600 students in Ngoc Hien District, where there are 10,000 students studying in kindergarten to ninth grade, rely on waterways to reach their schools, with many people in their 60s and 70s dedicating their entire day to transporting their grandchildren to and from class.

Every day 60-year-old Vo Thi Thu drive a boat over five kilometers to take her three grandchildren to Tan An Tay Primary School No. 1.

In the absence of roads connecting her home with the school, the daily boat trip is unavoidable. Despite not knowing how to swim and having to spend around VND100,000 (US$4) daily on fuel, Thu is determined to ensure her grandchildren receive an education.

To save money she usually packs her lunch and sits at eateries near the school until the day ends.

"I only head back home early if there is urgent work; it increases the cost," she says.

Bà Võ Thị Thu cùng các phụ huynh khác ngồi chờ con, cháu tan học. Ảnh: Chúc Ly

Vo Thi Thu (R) sits with two other seniors as they wait near Tan An Tay Primary School No. 1 in Ca Mau Province's Ngoc Hien District where their grandchildren study. Photo by VnExpress/Chuc Ly

The scene near Dat Mui Primary School No. 2 also shows this is a daily chore for many.

Duong Van Thuy, 65, drive a boat over six kilometers each day, leaving home at 6 a.m. and spending half an hour in the water to drop off his grandchild. He waits until 11 a.m. to take the child home, and repeats the process in the afternoon for his other grandchildren.

"My children work far away, so I take full responsibility for ensuring my three grandchildren get to school," he says.

"It takes my whole day, but it is the only way I feel they are safe."

At 71 Nguyen Thi Dep not only rows her grandchildren to school but also sells hand-carved chopsticks near the school to offset the costs.

"I don’t earn much, just a few tens of thousands at a time, but it is better than nothing," she says.

Recently she helped construct a temporary bridge near the docking area to make boarding easier during low tide.

Cảnh nhộn nhịp dưới bến sông tại trường tiểu học 2 Đất Mũi, huyện Ngọc Hiển giờ tan trường. Ảnh: Chúc Ly

Grandparents get ready to take children back home after school by boat near Dat Mui Primary School in Ca Mau Province's Ngoc Hien District. Photo by VnExpress/Chuc Ly

According to Dam Thu Ha, vice-principal of Tan An Tay Primary School No. 1, around 100 out of its 321 students commute by boat, some coming from as far as 15 kilometers away.

Families and public boats provide transportation, but the district’s marshy terrain and poor infrastructure mean proper road access remains a challenge.

Since the beginning of this academic year schools have sought donations for life jackets and promoted water safety awareness.

Le Xuan Hung, head of the district Education and Training Department, says the waterway commute is due to the area’s geographic features.

With many parents working in other parts of the country, grandparents often take on the responsibility of ferrying children to school, he says.

He has recommended that local authorities should provide ferry subsidies to disadvantaged students and prioritize improvement of roads in remote areas, he adds.

Children are taken to schools by boats in Ca Mau Province, November 2024. Video by VnExpress/Chuc Ly

 
 
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