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He is teacher's No 1 - and only - student

This article is more than 12 months old

Teachers in rural parts of China have the difficult task of teaching kids under limited resources.

People are also moving to cities in search of better facilities.

Because of this, one particular Chinese school has a 1:1 ratio for teacher and students.

Located in the mountain area of Xuan'en county, China's central Hubei province, Tianjingbao Primary School has only one teacher and one student.

Mr Zhao Guoqing, 59, said the school has been losing students in recent years because more people are leaving to work in cities, china.org.cn reported.

In 2009, the school had four students, but Wang Wenqiang is the only student there now.

Mr Zhao teaches three subjects - Chinese, maths and physical education - to his student. Other courses, including fine art and music, are taught through distance education.

The county has 36 schools with fewer than 15 teachers and students.

It is unfortunate that Wang does not have classmates. But he can look on the bright side - he will always top his class.

A new policy requiring the merging of poorly equipped schools in 2006 has resulted in a sharp decline of student numbers at many village primary schools, the report said.