Photo shows Ronghua Elementary School, a private school for migrant workers' children ran by a businesswoman in Kunming. [Photo/Lang Xiaowei]

Liu Zhenghua(刘正华), chairman of the board of Ronghua Elementary School, runs a private school for migrant workers' children in Kunming. After seven years, her possessions shrink gradually, because she devoted all her family property into the school, including four real estates and nine vehicles. However, she still sticks to the career, because of her overflowing kindness.

Reporter: Why did you start to run the school, for business or other reasons?

Liu: I used to collect wastes and saw many floating population families. I have been dreaming to build a school to provide these children an opportunity to attend school. I didn't expect it to make money, but I had never thought of paying out of my own pocket.

I lost both my parents when I was eleven. Since then I have been subsidized by the government for five yuan a month. Without the help, I could not grow up. I set up the school with a simple dream, hoping these children become good persons in the future. I think this is the way I pay a debt of gratitude to five yuan every month from the country.

Reporter: How much money have you invested?

Liu: I bought this school in 2005 and invested about 300,000 yuan for decoration. I have paid nearly 3 million yuan in total since 2006.

Liu, used to be a successful businesswoman, is generous and kind. Once poverty-stricken parents beg her for leniency, she always promises the remission of tuition fees without exception. She has invested about one million yuan to make up students' remission of tuitions, namely, she has paid one third to her kindness without refusal.

Liu Zhenghua(L), chairman of the board of Ronghua Elementary School, fills in a blank with the Principal Sun. [Photo/Lang Xiaowei]

Reporter: Did your friends suggest you to stop?

Liu: Yes, some of them said I'm an idiot. But I can not part from these children.

Reporter: I interviewed some of your teachers. They said they feel disappointed and don't want to work here long. How much do you usually pay for their salary?

Liu: The salary for a common teacher is about 1,200 yuan one month, and the average salary here is lower than that of other schools. As we are trapped in the difficult period, I cannot offer them a higher salary.

Liu is running a kindergarten to fund the elementary school now. She thinks it is the best way to solve the fund problem at present.

Xu Huasong (徐华松), a principal in Chuncheng Mingxing Elementary School, also runs a private school for the migrant workers' children. He has run the school for twelve years. As to the poverty-stricken children, his policy is "enrollment first , then tuition paid gradually." He said they never mention remission of tuition fees, but some families can not afford the tuition, finally they provided free classes to these children under the table.

Liu Zhenghua, chairman of the board of Ronghua Elementary School, takes a photo with students in her school. [Photo/Lang Xiaowei]

As to the poverty-stricken situation of Ronghua Elementary School, Zhou Hai (周海), a deputy chief in Education Bureau of Guandu District, said the education quality in this school can not be improved. The school fails to recruit enough students and the income of tuitions is not afford to pay for the rent, purchase teaching aids or pay for teachers' salary. "They live beyond their income, and the education quality can not be improved. It is a vicious circle," said Zhou.

"After all, a private school is not a charity organization. It should also pay attention to investment and output," said Li Yuguo(李玉国), Secretary of the Youth League Committee in Education Bureau of Guandu District. "there are a few good private schools around Ronghua Elementary School, but they do not have to sell properties or vehicles to run their schools. The situation in Ronghua school deserves a reflection."

Students have a class in Ronghua Elementary School, a private school ran by a businesswoman in Guandu District, Kunming. [Photo/Lang Xiaowei]

Photo shows the broken window at Ronghua Elementary School, a private school ran by a businesswoman in Guandu District, Kunming. [Photo/Lang Xiaowei]