World’s Smallest School
An elementary school in China has just one teacher and one pupil.
Li Yongchun, 61, has been teaching at the school in Dasu village, Longjing region for over 25 years.
He explained: “At first, the school had more than 400 students, but in the ’90s, more and more families migrated from the mountain village to make a living outside, and there were just over 10 students left.”
“In 2000, the city education bureau decided to shut down the school after the graduation of the last student. New kids can register and board at another school in nearby Sanhe town, which is a two-hour drive away.”
But the family of a third grader named Han Hongyang can’t afford the boarding fee, so she became the last remaining student.
“We have been like this for more than half a year. She is my only student, and I’m her only teacher,” says teacher Li.
Teacher Li teaches his student six subjects – Chinese, Mathematics, Korean, History, Geography and PE.
“During class breaks, we play badminton, ping pong and football, which is a bit hard for a 61-year-old,” says Li.
In another half a year, teacher Li is to retire, and the city education bureau says then it will send another teacher to take care of the only student till her graduation, reports City Evening Post.
(Ananova)
By Sirius on 29-06-2007
Comment by Jonathan
June 29th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I would be fascinated to know what graduation scores this pupil will attain. Classes here in china often number as many as 80 pupils which makes teaching extremely difficult. I’m sure most parents would pay through the nose to have this kind of ‘private’ tuition.
The relaxed atmosphere of this situation is so much more beneficial to a child when studying, a point overlooked and unthinkable to most Chinese parents whose belief is that could their child study for 28 hours a day, they’d be better for it!
Comment by Sultan Azteca
April 30th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I wonder how she will manage to cheat in her finals!
Comment by tony brookes
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:27 am
fascinating….thanks for sharing