A Mekong Delta rural village tenth grader who wrote to President Nguyen Minh Triet because she couldn’t afford to go to school has had her hopes answered.

Phan Thi Cam Giang prepares for the new school year at her home in a rural village of Dong Thap Province.

On Friday Phan Thi Cam Giang received encouraging words from the president and a passbook worth VND10 million (US$585) to support her study.

Her teachers and neighbors had advised her to seek sponsors instead of quitting school so she wrote about her problem to Triet.

Her primary and junior high schools in Chau Thanh District of Dong Thap Province all had records of Giang’s good performance.

“It would be sad to quit school so early but that’s the only way I can help my family earn more money and help my sister who is studying at 12th grade,” Giang said about deciding not to study anymore, despite being admitted with high scores into Chau Thanh 1 High School.

Her father Phan Van Lap has spinal problems and cannot do heavy work while her mother is incapacitated after severe sickness, Giang said in the personal request to the president, which she had concealed from her family.

They both were sad at Giang’s decision, and had tried to persuade her that the family could go without, for her to continue study.

Giang said she had thought for days before writing the letter to ask for a scholarship. She sent it on July 16 and almost burst into tears when her form teacher last Thursday informed her that the president is giving her the passbook.

“I was really moved and surprised. The money is too much for me. President Triet is busy with so many things but he’s still concerned about a student so far away like me,” said the 15-year-old.

Giang said she will save each single dong for school fees and books, so that she will face no financial problem in college.

“I’ll try to study as well as I can so that President Triet, my teachers and my parents won’t be disappointed.”

VietNamNet/Thanh Nien