A kindergarten open from dawn to dusk in Bình Dương Province

BÌNH DƯƠNG – It is 10pm, while falling asleep, Quân, a 15-months-old baby was woken up.

The boy softly cried a little, then continued to sleep soundly on his mother's shoulder on the way home.

This story seems very familiar to the children in the kindergarten here because their parents work overtime until late, then pick them up and take them home.

Vàng Anh Kindergarten in Bến Cát City of southern Bình Dương Province has working hours quite different from most. Every day, it opens at 6am and closes at 10pm.

For many years, So Thị Na, a teacher at the kindergarten is present at the school to welcome students when it is still early morning.

Taking a sleeping baby from his mother's arms, the young teacher gently picked the baby up and brought him inside.

After more than five years of working in the "babysitting" profession, Na considers this part of her daily life.

Recounting her journey in the profession, Na said she graduated with a degree in preschool pedagogy. However, life at that time caused the young girl to put her dream on hold and apply to become a worker at Yazaki Company.

“At that time, the school had just been established and lacked teachers. I was recommended by the human resources department to become a teacher, and so was immediately accepted,” she told saostar.vn.

There are many industrial zones in Bình Dương Province and most workers have young children but they have to work in shifts and often work late.

The kindergarten was opened in 2008 to serve the child care needs of workers.

This is the only school with special childcare hours.

Child pick-up and drop-off times are arranged in accordance with their parents’ overtime schedule.

More specifically, the school also opens classes and cares for children who have just turned six months old. Female employees who have just finished maternity leave can also safely have their children cared for here and return to work.

Thuý Kiều plays with her son during a short break between her working shifts. Photo saostar.vn

At around 7pm, taking advantage of a few minutes of break, Thuý Kiều rushed to the classroom to visit her child, bringing a few sausages and a box of fresh milk.

The 35-year-old mother said that she has been working in the city for more than two years.

“Those two years were the time when I felt most secure because I and my baby were close to each other,” Kiều said.

“Previously, there was no such kindergarten. When I was working overtime and came back home late, I had to send my child to a neighbour,” she said.

Children are dropped off and picked up at daycare regardless of the time of day. Many children were still sleeping soundly when their parents brought them.

Sympathising with the hardships of both parents and children, the teachers work in the role of the children's mothers to partly compensate for the disadvantages of children due to the special work of their parents.

“The motivation for me to go to the special school every day is my love for children,” said Na.

“After many years of working together, I was moved by the difficult situations of workers, especially single mothers who had to work overtime and still take care of their children,” she said.

“That's why I always try my best at work so that parents can feel more secure sending their children here,” said the teacher.

A worker with her children after class. Photo sapstar.vn

Near midnight, the last work shift of the day ended and the last children left to go home with their parents. Many of them continued to sleep on their parents’ arms.

In the following days, these children will continue to go to school early in the morning and return home in the middle of the night following their parents' overtime cycle.

This school with unique working hours has helped many families have less difficulty and made it easier to care for and transport their children. VNS