At a recent Ethnic Culture Festival marking the Day of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures (April 19), students performed gong music and took part in folk games, craft-making and exhibitions of their own artworks, highlighting the school’s commitment to hands-on cultural learning.
Researcher Bùi Trọng Hiền described the experience as deeply moving, saying it felt as though “a fire” had been lit among the students. A long-time advocate of Central Highlands gong culture, he praised the school’s success in helping students master traditional ensemble performance under sustained guidance.
The initiative is part of the school’s “Preserving and Developing Ethnic Culture for the 2025–2026 Academic Year” project, launched in September 2025. Principal Nguyễn Quang Tưởng said the programme aims to strengthen national identity, foster pride among ethnic minority students and promote respect for cultural diversity.
Supported by provincial funding under Decree 66/2025/NĐ-CP, the project includes maintaining a “boarding school cultural village” on campus, restoring stilt houses and inviting experts and artisans to teach traditional skills.
Among them are sculptor Nguyễn Nam, who leads wood carving classes, and artisan Rơ Châm Guk, who trains students in gong performance and lithophone playing, supported by donated instruments. These activities have helped position the school as a leading example of specialised cultural education in Gia Lai province.
Since October 2025, around 150 students from ethnic groups including Jrai, Hmong, Thai, Muong, Dao and Tày have participated in heritage workshops and practical training sessions. At a seminar in March 2026, students demonstrated strong engagement with lessons on the artistic value of gong culture.
Hiền stressed that preserving cultural heritage depends on the younger generation, noting that traditions risk fading without their involvement. He also commended the school’s learning environment, where traditional architectural elements such as stilt houses and communal spaces recreate a familiar cultural setting.
“In recent times, Ia Grai Ethnic Minority Boarding Lower Secondary School has carried out highly commendable activities. The school is not only a place for imparting knowledge but also a space for nurturing culture, where students can live in a rich cultural environment, learn, experience, and take pride in their own ethnic heritage.”
Students say the programme has deepened their understanding of their roots. “I’ve learned more about my people’s traditions and how to preserve them,” said ninth-grader Siu Yơm, who studies wood carving inspired by village rituals.
Teachers encourage creativity rather than rigid instruction. Sculptor Nguyễn Nam noted that students express both cultural identity and personal imagination through their work, which is displayed on campus after completion.
Beyond cultural preservation, the school believes such skills could also offer future livelihoods for talented students.
For many, the campus itself reinforces this connection. “It feels as familiar as my village,” said eighth-grader Xa Ksor Ngân Hà, adding that students also learn to plant trees and care for herbal gardens alongside their studies.
As these initiatives continue, Ia Grai’s model underscores the role of education in safeguarding cultural heritage while equipping students with both identity and opportunity.