Commitment

The Jiangsu teachers have all been given free lodgings next to the school, so they are close to their students in class and in life. The school also provides societies where the students are free to develop hobbies, such as learning piano or Tibetan calligraphy.

The Jiangsu teachers are scheduled to stay for two years, but many find that period too short to bring effective improvements to their students, so each year at least half choose to stay longer.

Qian was one of the first Jiangsu teachers to arrive when the school was established. He could have left long ago, but once he stood in front of a class, he knew he would stay for a long period.

"I believe that love is the cornerstone of education. It is the process of nurturing a life, and it works very slowly. So, as an educator, you have to be patient and have real affection for people," he said.