For almost a month, a wall has divided the Minh Son Preschool in Trieu Son Commune, Thanh Hoa Province, disrupting classes and outdoor activities. Nguyen Van Lai, 67, erected the barrier after a land dispute with local authorities.
The brick wall, over one meter high and almost 25 meters long, runs through the playground, separating the administrative offices from the classrooms.
Nguyen Thi Van, the preschool principal, said the wall forces teachers and over 100 students to detour to reach their classrooms. "Meal preparation, outdoor play, and many other activities have been severely affected," Van said.
School officials say this isn't the first time Lai has disrupted school activities. He has previously caused issues during opening and closing ceremonies, creating concern among teachers and parents.
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The wall built by Lai on 8/6. Photo: Lam Son |
The wall built by Lai on 8/6. Photo: Lam Son
In 2014, Lai's family gave 950 square meters of their land to expand the preschool so it could meet national standards. In return, they were promised a 210 square meter plot near the communal health station and received over 50 million VND in compensation. However, 11 years later, Lai has yet to receive the promised land.
Despite numerous petitions, Lai says he has only received empty promises. "I built the wall not out of defiance, but so the commune would take notice," he said, adding that he'll remove the wall if the issue is resolved.
Lai has requested 3.3 billion VND, equivalent to the current value of his original land, if the commune cannot fulfill the original agreement.
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The 25-meter wall separates the administrative offices from the classrooms at Minh Son Preschool. Photo: Lam Son |
The 25-meter wall separates the administrative offices from the classrooms at Minh Son Preschool. Photo: Lam Son
Trieu Son Commune officials confirm the prior land exchange agreement but state that allocating resettlement land isn't within their jurisdiction. The decision rests with the district or provincial People's Committee.
Lai's family has filed a lawsuit, and the commune is awaiting the court's decision before taking further action.
Local officials, education authorities, and the preschool administration have urged Lai to remove the wall to restore normal school operations, but he has refused.
