Ahead of the school's inauguration, ninth-grader Vi Thi Chau and her classmates visited their new school, learned about school regulations and rehearsed performances for the ceremony. From classrooms still smelling of fresh paint to the modern, well-equipped boarding facilities, everything has filled the students with excitement as they eagerly await the new academic year.

Chau said her family lives in Chieng On hamlet, where students previously had to get up early and walk to school. “Whenever there were heavy rains and floods, I was very scared. But now, we are very happy that next academic year we will study at a new school with modern classrooms and spacious boarding facilities. We have promised ourselves to study hard and achieve good results,” she added.

For Vi Van Chien, a Xinh Mun ethnic minority from Na Cai hamlet, the upcoming opening ceremony of the new school year will be more special than ever. His journey to school will no longer be arduous; instead, he will have access to a safe and well-equipped environment for both learning and daily life.

I like the STEM classroom the most because it has a lot of modern equipment. We will be able to conduct practical exercises, carry out experiments and explore our creativity. The school also has a multi-purpose hall and a swimming pool. I hope to take part in more sports activities, improve my health, and explore, learn and gain more experiences with my classmates in the new school year,” Chien said.

The project was launched in November 2025 on a five-hectare site, with total investment of more than 265 billion VND (10.1 million USD). Designed for 30 classes, the school comprises classrooms, subject-specific facilities, boarding facilities, a dining hall, swimming pool, sports grounds and other auxiliary works, ensuring learning, accommodation and living conditions for more than 1,000 students from the border area. 

Over nearly nine months of construction, the contractor has mobilised maximum manpower and organising teams in shifts around the clock to overcome adverse weather conditions. The school is the first completed among 13 ethnic boarding school projects in the province's border areas.

Vu Dinh Thang from Ngoc Quyet Construction Co., Ltd., who is the site commander, said the project has progressed smoothly thanks to the local authorities' proactive efforts in site clearance. At certain stages, the contractor mobilised more than 500 workers to ensure progress.

In preparation for the new school year, the Yen Son commune People's Committee has approved the establishment of the Yen Son Primary and Secondary Boarding School and completed arrangements for its organisational structure. Managers, teachers and staff have been assigned in sufficient numbers and with an appropriate subject structure, ensuring quality, efficiency and compliance with regulations so that the school can operate smoothly as soon as it is handed over.

According to Principal Tran Van Lam, in the 2026-2027 academic year, the school will have 1,050 students, including 420 primary students in 12 classes and 630 secondary students in 18 classes. Of the total, 1,036 students will live in the boarding facilities, supported by 66 managers, teachers and staff members. 

To prepare for the students' arrival, the school management board has developed and finalised regulations and rules governing teaching and learning, accommodation and daily activities in the boarding facilities, dining hall and staff housing area. It has also held parent meetings to disseminate information on relevant policies and the benefits and support available to students during their study and stay at the school.

The school will be officially inaugurated on August 22, opening a new chapter for education in the mountainous border area. 

Built through the shared aspirations of the Party and the people, the school is expected to provide generations of border-area students with knowledge and resilience, empowering them to contribute to the development and safeguarding of their homeland in the years to come./.