Labor education at primary school in SW China's Yunnan gives students all-round development

A boy at Jingwai Mingde Primary School in Xuanwei city, southwest China's Yunnan Province, holds three eggplants. (Photo/People's Daily App)

A primary school in southwest China's Yunnan Province with a 15-year tradition of labor skills education has not only achieved self-sufficiency in growing vegetables, fruits, and meat, but has also helped its students develop in an all-round manner, winning widespread praise from Chinese Internet users.

Since its inception in 2008, Jingwai Mingde Primary School in Xuanwei city, Yunnan, has included labor skill classes in the school curriculum to ensure the overall development of students. Today, a comprehensive labor education system covering planting vegetables, raising animals and housework, among other subjects, is in place in the school.

It set up a nearly 150-mu (10 hectares) labor education base where the students learn to grow various kinds of fruits, vegetables, as well as farming of poultry and livestock. Thanks to the joint efforts of the teachers and students, the school is capable of providing itself with all the vegetables, fruits and meat for its three meals each day.

In addition, inside the base, there is also a place for the students to learn about farming culture, a greenhouse where soilless cultivation is used, and an animal breeding area, all of which are managed by professionals.

The students enjoy spending time with and feeding the animals, which are kept in a "zoo" inside the breeding area. "It is a vivid lesson on life. As the students learn to care for the animals, they eventually learn to love and care about the people around them," observed Lei Yingfei, head of the school.

In the greenhouse, where fruit trees and herbs for traditional Chinese medicine are grown, the students acquire botanical knowledge and learn about biodiversity. Teachers of other subjects, such as Chinese and math, also give classes here, as they believe studying in nature is much better than studying indoors.

The students have also cultivated a spirit of teamwork and improved their social skills during the classes, which will have a positive influence on their entire life, said Lei.

The labor education has also been commended by students' parents. The children help with the housework and farm work now, some said.