Excellent student may have no choice but to drop out from school

Nguyen Kim Ki, a second year student at Hue Economics University, doesn't know whether he can continue his studies because of his difficult family circumstance.

Ki was born in Kim Ngoc Hamlet, Huong Tho, Huong Tra, Thua Thien-Hue Province.

We met Ki and his mother, Nguyen Thi Ha, 50, when as she was crying in a corridor at Hue Central Hospital.

After talking to them, we came to know that Ha has suffered from Basedow, a gall stone disease, for many years, but she does not have enough money for treatment. As a result, she is suffering from its painful side-effects. Ki has to be asbsent from his class in order to take her to the hospital.

They had only VND10,000 ($0.52) left, which was not enough for both to eat lunch.

Ki and his mother were waiting for medicine at Hue Central Hospital

Ha shared with us that her husband left her and their 6 children over ten years ago to live with another woman. She was forced to struggle to bring up her children. “I borrowed VND1 million ($52.6) from a bank nearly 10 years ago, but I am still unable to pay. My health is very bad now so I cannot work anymore. I have to rely on my children,” said a sobbing Ha.

She was forced to give her first son to a family with a hope that he would have a better life. The second and fifth children left school early to support their family.

Ki is the third son, who is a very good student so his family encourages him to continue his schooling. When Ki passed the university examination, he asked to stay in Dieu De Pagoda at Bach Dang Road, Phu Cat Ward, Hue City because his house is far from the school and he does not have enough to hire a room which is near his school.

Several months ago, Nguyen Kim Quoc, the fourth of the children, who is in 12th grade, suffered from meningitis. Quoc had to be absent from school and his graduation examination is coming. Ki is worried that his brother might not able to pass the exam so he has to teach him at night.

The pagoda where Ki is living is closed after 7pm so they hired a room that became a burden for their family to afford.

The family borrowed VND3.5 million ($184) to cover hospital expenditure for Quoc. They had VND500,000 ($26.3) left. Ha decided to spend the remaining money on renting a room for Ki and Quoc. But she does not know this amount of money is just enough for room rent, not for food.

Currently, Ki’s brothers are working as masons to earn money to support the whole family and schooling fees for Ki’s two brothers. It’s really difficult for Ki’s family to cover his school fees.

“I probably have to postpone my studies to go to work, I will resume them after one or two years. My mother does not have money to buy medicine and food. Her disease is getting worse. I do not have money to pay for this term. I want to continue to go to school but it’s really hard for me,” shared Ki.

Looking at his slim body, we were worried about his physical health.

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