Truong Sa children begin new school year far from mainland

Teachers and pupils on four islands in the Truong Sa Special Zone joined millions across Vietnam in celebrating the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.

On the morning of September 5, joining the nationwide back-to-school celebrations, teachers and pupils at four primary schools in the Truong Sa Special Zone enthusiastically welcomed the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Phụ huynh trên đảo Trường Sa hân hoan đưa con đến trường.jpg — Phụ huynh trên đảo Trường Sa đưa con đến trường trong ngày khai giảng. Ảnh: *X.N*

From early morning, at schools on Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton, Truong Sa and Da Tay islands, military personnel, teachers and parents worked together to clean and prepare school grounds and classrooms.

National flags and colorful banners created a festive atmosphere for the special occasion. Dressed in new clothes, excited pupils carried their books to school and took part in a solemn opening ceremony that included a flag salute, the national anthem and the reading of a letter marking the new academic year.

On the occasion, officers and soldiers stationed on the islands also visited the schools and presented gifts to teachers and pupils as a gesture of encouragement.

On Song Tu Tay Island, Lt. Col. Nguyen Tien Tung, the island’s political commissar, said caring for education was both a responsibility and a heartfelt commitment for soldiers stationed far from the mainland. The unit therefore maintains close coordination with schools, families and other forces to create favorable learning conditions and help the children thrive.

The opening-day atmosphere was similarly vibrant on Da Tay Island. During the ceremony, officers and soldiers presented gifts to teachers and pupils, bringing them joy and encouragement for the new academic year.

Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen, a parent on Da Tay Island, said families always hoped their children would have good learning conditions and receive dedicated guidance from their teachers. “Seeing the children happily going to school on opening day makes our families very happy,” she said.

On Truong Sa Island, the opening ceremony unfolded in a warm atmosphere filled with singing, cultural performances and practical gifts from soldiers stationed on the island. Nguyen Pham Ngoc Trinh, a third-grade pupil at Truong Sa Primary School, spoke proudly about studying there.

“I will try to behave well, study hard, get along with my friends, and listen to my teachers and parents. I am very proud to study on Truong Sa Island,” she said.

On Sinh Ton Island, despite the harsh weather and great distance from the mainland, teachers entered the new academic year with strong determination, carefully preparing lesson plans and proactively introducing new teaching methods.

Speaking about the work of “sowing the seeds of knowledge” on the remote island, Phan Quang Tuan, a teacher at Sinh Ton Primary School, said that despite the particular challenges of working there, the care and support of both military personnel and residents on the island provided the greatest motivation for teachers to keep striving.

Everyone shares the same goal, he said: to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their pupils so that “every day they come to school is truly a happy day.”

In the 2026-2027 academic year, primary schools across the Truong Sa Special Zone will continue to focus on improving educational quality while teaching pupils about ethics, life skills, patriotic traditions and a love for Vietnam’s seas and islands. They will also strengthen coordination among schools, families and the forces stationed on the islands.