On a foggy morning I visited Le Hong Phong Specialized Secondary School in Nam Dinh Province, where a celebration of its 85th founding anniversary and the 45th anniversary of it being named after eminent revolutionary leader - Le Hong Phong - would be organized soon. It was the time of saluting the flag at school. The large yard full with over 1,500 teachers and pupils was quiet and calm. They were listening to Principal Nguyen Viet Hung who advised all pupils to learn harder to achieve good results in their study and accumulate knowledge for their professions in the future.

The School is spacious with rows of tidy and beautiful 2-floor buildings. Opposite to its gate is a flag pole where every Monday morning the teachers and pupils meet and talk about their efforts in building the school. Standing on the first floor of the School’s headquarters I contemplated its premises and thought of the achievements obtained by nearly 150 teachers over the past 10 years. The School’s annual graduation rate is 100% and that passing the university or college entrance examinations is over 90%. Almost every year, the School had dozens of pupils winning prizes at international and national contests. Some of them are Vu Viet Tai who won a silver medal at the Asia-Pacific Olympics Mathematics Contest in 2000, Tran Cong Toan, a silver medalist at the Asia Olympics Physics Contest in 2003 and Doan Van Khanh, a silver medalist at the International Physics Contest in 2004. Worthy of note is the fact that in any circumstance, the pupils at Le Hong Phong School always try their utmost to overcome difficulties to study. For instance, Pham Ngoc Thinh, a Grade-12 pupil at a chemistry-specialized class, who had to do extra work after school to support his family, made great efforts in learning and won a second prize at a national chemistry contest in 2004.

Referring to the School’s achievements, Principal Nguyen Viet Hung said: “During the renovation period, the School reached peak achievements, upholding its glorious tradition built by generations of teachers and pupils. These achievements are difficult to reach, but to maintain and expand them is many times more difficult”.nbsp; The School plans to develop a contingent of excellent teachers who not only educate and train themselves to improve their knowledge and professional skills, but also increasingly improve their methods of teaching and learning to meet the needs of educational development. Every year, each group of specialized teachers sends at least two of its members to take M.A study. In the past, teachers with M.A degree were finger counted, but now one-third of the School’s teachers have M.A or higher degrees.

Not only building up a contingent of excellent teachers, Le Hong Phong School also works out good methods of teaching, which it considers a solution to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Bringing new blood to the school, fostering young teachers and entrusting them with heavy responsibility also create a new driving force. At present one third of its staff are of young age. Young teachers are active in applying information technology on teaching and learning. This new method provides the pupils with more information, enabling them to access various information channels, thus making the lessons more lively and attractive. The teachers are the organizers and instructor to the pupils, helping them improve their knowledge independently and positively.nbsp;

Throughout its educational path over nearly a century, Le Hong Phong Specialized High School has educated and fostered tens of thousands of pupils who are now living and working in all parts of the country. Many of them are now State leaders, professors, academics, teachers, engineers, writers and journalists who have contributed to writing the golden historical pages of the country and engraving the School’s long-standing tradition of thirst for learning to deserve the name of Le Hong Phong, an eminent revolutionary of the nation. At the School’s festival to be held on March 26, 2005, former pupils of Le Hong Phong School will have a chance to revisit their school and meet their teachers and classmates.