Students from ethnic groups rely on university for better future

In Leye county, a poverty-stricken county in Baise city of Guangxi, more than 20 percent of the 789 students taking the gaokao this year were admitted to universities, with most of the rest admitted to vocational colleges.

Huang Bingzhong, the principal of Leye County High School, says that for many students whose families are poor, university is a means to come out of poverty.

"Sending a child to university or college is the best way for a family to get out of the mountains," says Huang.

China sees education as key in its poverty alleviation efforts, so it has launched favorable gaokao policies for students from rural and poor areas.

In April, the Ministry of Education said that top universities would enroll 63,000 students from underdeveloped regions this year, about 3,000 more than in 2016.

Recruiting poor students into provincial-level colleges is expected to grow by 10 percent this year.

Through this move in Guangxi, a total of 2,507 students have been recruited by 154 universities, 300 more than in 2016.

Guangxi has a large ethnic population, and it is also one of the least developed regions, with 28 national-level poverty-stricken counties, in which 11 are ethnic autonomous counties.

With the number of schoolage children growing, many poor counties face a shortage of competent teachers, funds and schools.

Luo says the school was designed to accommodate a maximum of 2,200 students, but now has nearly 3,500. The school lacks not only classrooms but also other facilities.

Low salaries also make it hard to retain teachers.

"Every year, several teachers resign, and it is very difficult for us to hire new ones," he says.

Leye County High School works with other schools so that students can have lessons given by teachers of these schools online.

Ya Qiming, an education official in Donglan county, another poverty-stricken county in Hechi, says more funding is needed to improve educational facilities such as buildings in poor areas.

"Teachers' salaries and welfare should also be improved so that they stay," he says.