In rural Chongqing, teaching blends with life

Wang Pu, 57, and his wife, Zhang Wenfang, 53, devoted themselves 22 years ago to teaching in a remote rural village. They have taught more than 1,000 students, over 100 of whom later attended college.

In 1999, Wang left his former post as a math teacher at a middle school and became a teacher at Pu'an Primary School. The school, which is more than 700 meters above sea level, is the only one in Pu'an village of Chongqing's Zhongxian county. 

"I had no other thought but to come back to the village where I was born and contribute to rural education," Wang said.

Zhang, his spouse, came to the village six years later and served as a kindergarten teacher at the primary school.

Wang said this semester, there are two Grade 2 primary school students and five kindergarten students, mostly from poor families in the village. 

As the only teacher of primary school lessons, Wang has adopted a comprehensive teaching mode. He provides all kinds of classes, including Chinese language, math, music and physical education.

Besides teaching, the couple need to take care of the students' lives. At noon, they cook lunch for the kids. They also wash clothes for some left-behind children. 

They have witnessed the school's population decrease over the years, from nearly 200 students and four teachers in 1999 to only seven students and two teachers this year. Wang said that's because some local villagers migrated to nearby cities and towns for better jobs and living conditions.

"I found life here a little bit boring when I first came. But the longer I stay, the attachment to the kids grows stronger," said Zhang. "I will stay and take care of them, and hope they can grow happily."