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| Teacher Tung always accompanies his students |
A vanguard of research and innovation
At the conference held by the Hue City Party Committee in late July 2025 to mark ten years of implementing Politburo Directive No. 05 on “Promoting the study and practice of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style,” a wave of applause and bright smiles filled the room as outstanding officials and Party members were honored. Among the standout figures was teacher Phan Huu Tung.
Ferryman Phan Huu Tung is the author of many notable educational innovations. He won first prize in the Thua Thien Hue provincial contest for teacher-made teaching aids with his instructional model for building multiplication knowledge in primary school math, and received a consolation prize at the 2015 National Technical Innovation Contest with the same model. Additionally, he developed data-processing software for the universalization of lower secondary education, which earned a consolation prize at the 2015 Thua Thien Hue Provincial Technical Innovation Contest.
He is also the author of a primary school student management software program, aligned with Circulars No. 22 and No. 27, which features a contact report printing function. The software has been effectively adopted by many primary schools nationwide and earned a consolation prize at the 2020 Provincial Technical Innovation Contest. In addition, he won second prize at the 2016 Provincial E-learning Lesson Design Contest and received two consolation prizes at the 2022–2023 Provincial Digital Teaching Equipment Design Contest.
In 2023, he led a town-level scientific project titled “Applying Smart Technology to Automate the Control of Electricity and Water,” which contributed to cost savings and enhanced fire and explosion prevention in schools. In addition, he received several other awards, reflecting his dedication and unceasing creativity in the educational cause.
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| Teacher Tung (fifth from right) was awarded a certificate of merit by the Hue City Party Committee |
A modest yet joyful smile always shines in the eyes of the teacher with over 30 years of service, as he spoke of his concerns and aspirations to pursue scientific projects, innovations, and initiatives in management and teaching, seeking to support teachers and students in enhancing educational quality and helping generations of young learners firmly grasp knowledge.
Teacher Phan Huu Tung shared that during his 16 years working in Duong Hoa and Phu Son—two particularly disadvantaged mountainous communes of Huong Thuy town, now part of Phu Bai ward - he and his colleagues were heart-wrenched by the sight of their young students living in difficult circumstances. Many carried old schoolbags on their shoulders, wore sandals with worn-out soles, and brought only a handful of plain rice with sesame salt for lunch, which still left them hungry.
“Back then, classes ran in both the morning and afternoon. Due to difficult conditions, the school had not yet been able to provide semi-boarding meals. Students from distant villages brought their food and stayed at school. At lunchtime, teachers arranged for them to eat right in the classroom, caring for them and offering guidance as parents would. Seeing the clear eyes of the students as they passionately spoke of their dreams - of becoming doctors, soldiers, entrepreneurs—I made a vow to contribute my strength and intellect to enhancing the quality of education, to help nurture those dreams. With knowledge as their companion, they will change their lives and join hands in building and developing their homeland,” teacher Phan Huu Tung shared.
For beloved students
When the education sector began transitioning from manual record-keeping to digital data entry for universal education records, Mr. Tung took the lead in developing software to automatically compile statistics, helping teachers save time and improve accuracy. During the same period, while no school in the entire province (now the city of Hue) had yet used software to print report cards or parent-teacher communication forms, Mr. Tung created an application that enabled teachers to print these documents directly from the software.
In addition, because teaching multiplication tables required teachers to manually attach individual models to convey knowledge, Mr. Tung devised a new instructional method that simplified the process and made it more intuitive, while still ensuring high effectiveness. These innovations were not only scientific and practical but also significantly reduced teachers’ workload, thereby contributing to enhanced teaching and learning quality in schools.
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| Teacher Tung in conversation with the author |
Teacher Phan Huu Tung often reminded the school’s teachers that the campaign “Each teacher is a model of ethics, self-study, and creativity” carries profound meaning. Teachers must be exemplary, responsible, dedicated, and serve as role models for students to follow. True to his words, Mr. Tung has always set an example through his sense of responsibility and enthusiasm.
Beyond his demanding workload at school, teacher Tung devoted his late nights at home to tireless exploration, research, and the creation of practical innovations. Driven by a heartfelt commitment to give his all for his beloved students, he developed useful inventions such as a schoolyard sweeper, a garbage collector, and a grass-cutting machine. He also guided his students in creating a “multi-functional pencil case,” which won First Prize in the Youth Innovation Contest organized by the Thua Thien Hue Youth Activity Center (formerly).
For the benefit of its young students, Phu Bai Primary School No. 1 has been among the pioneers in designing and equipping 100% of its classrooms with sliding blackboards and appropriately positioned televisions, ensuring school health standards and helping reduce eye strain and spinal issues among students.
“The responsibility and dedication of the school’s leader have inspired every teacher here. We constantly strive to enhance our professional expertise and stand by our students throughout their learning and development journey,” shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, Mr. Le Trac Minh, and many other teachers at Phu Bai Primary School No. 1, with sincere appreciation.
During my visit to Phu Bai Primary School No. 1, teacher Phan Huu Tung did not dwell on his accomplishments. Instead, he spoke with pride about the academic successes of his students. The list of names and awards stretched on and on. Among the standouts was Tran Quoc Anh Kiet, who won a gold medal at the “Hippo International English Olympiad,” another gold at the “SEAMO International Mathematics Olympiad,” along with a string of other distinctions; and Le Nguyen Minh Quang, who earned a gold at the national “Children’s Mathematics Olympiad,” along with many other prizes.
In our conversations, we often reminisced about Duong Hoa and Phu Son, once severely disadvantaged areas, where many impoverished students harbored hopes for a bright future. It was in those places that teacher Tung, over 16 years of devoted service, contributed numerous practical innovations and initiatives in teaching, accompanied by a boundless affection for his students.
With a warm smile, teacher Phan Huu Tung shared: “It has been 15 years since I was transferred, yet I still follow and take joy in the changes that have turned that once-remote area into a connected part of the thriving city of Hue. Surely, behind those transformations are generations of students who once persevered under the guidance of their teachers along the river of knowledge, driven by their aspirations to rise.”
Together, we believe that.