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Le Chinh Ton, headmaster of Ta Hoc Secondary School said they were worried that students might leave school because of food shortages. Most of the students in school are from Thai, Muong, Mong and Kho Mu ethnic groups.

110 of total 227 students have to stay at school because their homes are far away. "We don’t collect data about the number poor students because being poor is so common here," Ton said.

The school's kitchen is a simple bamboo room with spare equipment so the students can cook their own meals.

The meals often consist of just rice. Mui Van Kien, an eighth grade student said sometimes students would switch to instant noodles or went to the forest to hunt for mice or fish. But even if they could catch some wild animals, they were bland due to a lack of spices.

Kien caught two mice

Food for a week of study for a ninth grade student consists of some rice, corn and bananas

Students cooking after class

A pot of rice cooked for seven students

Vegetable and other food are considered rare

Fish from forest stream are cooked

Students had to switch from rice to instant noodles for a change

Fresh meat and nutritious meals are a luxury for many students