Bustling Khmer language classes in border areas

For over 15 years, every summer, Ta Teng Pagoda, Giang Thanh Commune (An Giang) has been bustling with the sounds of children practicing reading Khmer and the lectures of monks.

View of Khmer class at Ta Teng pagoda.

From early morning, many Khmer children from Ta Teng hamlet, Giang Thanh commune ( An Giang province) gathered at the temple yard to prepare for class.

Venerable Tien Sarach, Abbot of Ta Teng Pagoda, said: “After the school year ends, the pagoda encourages Buddhists with school-age children to come to the pagoda to learn Khmer. They are trained from a young age to be able to read and write.”

Venerable Tien Sarach guides students to read Khmer.

This year, Ta Teng Pagoda organizes 8 classes, including 3 grade 1, 3 grade 2, 1 grade 3 and 1 grade 4 with 185 students from 6 to 14 years old. Every day, the pagoda organizes 2 sessions, each session is about 3 hours. The teachers are monks in the pagoda. Although there are many difficulties and shortages, with love and desire to preserve and promote the cultural identity of the nation, the monks have taken advantage of their summer vacation to teach the children.

Thi Tien, a third-grade student at the pagoda, shared: “In addition to learning Khmer, the monks also taught me about the customs, practices, rituals and cultural beauty of the Khmer people. Since then, my friends and I have loved, been proud of and tried to preserve the cultural identity of the nation.”

Students are instructed by monks to write Khmer.

According to Venerable Tien Sarach, for the Khmer people, the pagoda is like a second home because most of the cultural and religious activities are concentrated at the pagoda. Opening Khmer classes helps Khmer children learn their mother tongue, understand their roots and preserve the traditional culture of their people.

Party Cell Secretary and Head of Ta Teng Hamlet, Tran Van Tinh, said: “The locality pays great attention to students’ education. Every summer, the Hamlet and Pagoda leaders encourage families to send their children to study Khmer. These classes are all free of charge.”

Deputy Secretary of Giang Thanh Commune Youth Union Tang Van Toan (left cover) and Party Cell Secretary, Head of Ta Teng Hamlet Tran Van Tinh (middle) discussed with the abbot of Ta Teng Pagoda the difficulties in the teaching process.

Due to many difficulties, the pagoda has mobilized Giang Thanh Commune Union to support students with notebooks. Deputy Secretary of Giang Thanh Commune Union Tang Van Toan said: "In the past time, the Commune Union and Ta Teng Hamlet Leadership Board have visited, encouraged, and shared difficulties with the pagoda in the process of teaching Khmer, and have supported the pagoda with 300 notebooks to encourage students to continue studying."

Summer Khmer classes are meaningful activities, contributing significantly to the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of the Khmer people.

Article and photos: THANH NHA

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ron-rang-lop-hoc-chu-khmer-vung-bien-a425651.html