According to the local statistics, in the period from 2013 to 2016, religious establishments in the province raised approximately VND 50 billion for promotion of learning and education, with thousands of scholarships have been presented to local children from poor families.

The number of education promotion boards set up by religious places has also increased considerably, from 76 in 2013 to the present number of 243, and currently accounting nearly 50% of the total number of establishments for education promotion in the province, head of the education promotion association in Long An Ngô Thanh Tam informed.

Long Thanh pagoda in the province’s Thu Thua district is one of many typical examples. The pagoda has become a loving home for hundreds of disadvantaged children from many localities. Thanks to sponsors, the primary-second-high Bo De Phuong Duy school was established in July 2012 at the Buddhist pagoda. This is the first fee-free school in the country managed by a religious organization with national standards of education. For three school years since its founding, 100% of school students have passed year-end exams, and the funding raised to ensure it operation has reached over VND 24 billion. According to Senior Venerable Abbot of the pagoda Thích Quảng Tâm, many teachers voluntarily devoted their life to teaching children in the school.

Students in a class of Bo De Phuong Duy school.

There are also many other outstanding religious establishments in promotion children’s learning and education in the province, including Trung Thuan pagoda in Chau Thanh’s Thuan My commune, Buu Van pagoda in Tan Tru’s An Nhat Tan commune, Catholics parishes of Hiep Hoa and My Dien, Khanh Hung Hoa Hao Buddhist establishment, Thuan My Protestant Church, Tan Tap Caodai oratory, etc.

PTT