The “Prudential - Good Essay, Good Writing” competition for high-school children in the Mekong Delta drew to a close yesterday in Tien Giang Province.

Sai Gon Giai Phong Deputy-Editor-in-Chief Vo Hong Son (R) gives the first prize to Duong Thuy Van at the award ceremony in Tien Giang on Dec 3

Life insurer Prudential Vietnam and Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper launched the contest in October in collaboration with the education departments of the delta’s 13 provinces and cities.

Out of the 200,000 entries submitted by teenagers with a passion for literature and good handwriting, 13 were awarded.

Top prize went to Duong Thuy Van of Le Ngoc Han Junior High in Tien Giang for her essay on the mandatory theme of “emotions and thoughts on the lotus blossom.”

The three top scorers wrote about the lotus flower being a symbol of the Vietnamese people, noble and unyielding.

The contest turned out to be a meaningful activity as education in Viet Nam is sorely in need of reform, not the least aspect being the teaching and study of literature.

Arousing an interest in literature among young people is a must, but the way the subject is taught has to change. For a long time now the formal study of literature in Viet Nam has been criticized for being too rigid and stereotyped.

Related article:
Essay Contest Likely to Lure 200,000 Mekong Pupils

Reported by H.L – Translated by Thuy Hang