Dwindling attendance leaves Jilin primary with one child

Taking care of Wang Hao has also become his teachers' responsibility.

Even in early spring, temperatures can drop to about -15 C in the northeastern village. Chen has to add fuel to a stove to keep the 50-square-meter classroom warm when her student is reading or doing exercises.

Liu Haitao, the boy's PE teacher, also hurried to the center of town on Monday to fetch textbooks and study materials before a heavy snowfall.

"Usually Wang Hao doesn't like expressing his emotions, and he has never said if he would like to transfer to another school," Chen said. "To prevent him from feeling lonely, we often talk to him during breaks.

"He really enjoys listening to our stories and hearing news from outside the village. He's just like my own son, and I hope he will have a wonderful future."

Wang Hailong, 34, the boy's father, said he is grateful to the teachers and relieved he is able to send his child to a local school.

"I've considered transferring him to another school, but I worry he might be bullied and won't be able to adapt to the new environment," he said.

"Also, the extra expense including travel and lunch would be a burden. My mother has a serious skin disease and I need to save part of our income for her treatment."

The family of six has 1 hectare of cultivated land and 30 sheep, which brings them about 30,000 yuan ($4,740) a year.

"My 6-year-old daughter will start primary school next year and I've decided to send her to the same school as her brother," Wang Hailong added.