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Thai Binh Minh (R) is always ready to assist volunteers in finishing their tasks. Photo H.Y |
The locals in central province of Binh Dinh have become kind hosts in the past few days, helping many candidates coming to the province to take the entrance exams. What they have done made the “entrance exam aid” program more successful.
Make students more confident
As usual, prices of rented housing and other services increase during the exam season due to the students’ high demand for accommodation.
However, there haven’t got any price increase in Quy Nhon city and districts of Tuy Phuoc and An Nhon where the exams have taken place.
Whenever the exam season comes, Nguyen Manh Hong and Nguyen Thi Ngu tidy their house to receive students. Their house has become a well-known address for candidates for five years.
When I came to their house, there were already ten students and their relatives coming from provinces of Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak.
“My daughter and I came here to temporarily live in the exam season and we were offered comfortable accommodation,” said Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan whose daughter will take the exam in the city.
It seems that there is always happiness in their house on these days. They called Hong and Ngu “father” and “mother”.
“My brother faced many difficulties when he took his son to take the entrance exam in the big city,” Hong said. “My wife and I, therefore, decided to help disadvantaged students.”
“We received three students in the first year and offered them meals, but after there were 20 candidates in the following years, they had to cook by themselves,” he added.
Their children, who are living in Ha Noi, always phoned them to ask about the preparation. Hong and Ngu also persuaded their neighbors to offer free accommodation to students.
Huynh Thi San whose house is located in Tuy Phuoc district has provided free accommodation for students since the “entrance exam aid” program was launched for the first time.
“I’m really happy when some students phoned me to inform they had passed the exams, some visited my house, and some wanted me to become their sister,” she said.
Luong Van Thanh and Nguyen Thi Le Thu living in Tuy Phuoc district also offered three rooms to candidates when they have just moved to live in their newly-built house.
There were 10 students and their relatives coming to live, but Thu still wanted more. “We only receive students once a year, so we want to create favorable conditions to help them,” she said.
Other helpers
We also saw guards of Nhon Binh market helping volunteers. They have taken turns keeping the public order and assisting Youth Union members in instructing candidates to find ways to their exam venues.
Thai Binh Minh, one of guards, said that all guards here tried to help volunteers work better. It was quite hard but we were proud of our tasks.
“Last year one students lost his identity papers, but we couldn’t find out them because he had informed so late,” Minh said. “We then helped him to take the exam and return to his home.”
They also join the local authorities to inspect rented houses everyday, aiming to ensure the best condition for students who rent houses.
A motorbike group of 22 members in Tuy Phuoc district have also contributed to the campaign by reducing prices.
“We only take VND10,000 each student,” said Nguyen Huu Tan, head of the group. “If any members violate the rule, they will be fined.”
Sometimes they also returned lost properties to students and didn’t take their money when knowing their difficulties.
The first session of the 2009’s entrance exams has just ended. These helpers are waiting for other students who will come to Binh Dinh in the coming time.
Looking at their happy faces, I realized they are delighted to voluntarily help students despite difficulties in their life.
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