The new teaching building of Wulan Primary School. [Photo by Miao Xiaojian]

50-year-old Liang Deye, Principal of Wulan Primary School in Huangpu Town, finally overcame a long-standing mental block after working in the education system for 31 years.

Wulan Primary School, founded in 1946, had 12 classes, over 30 teachers and staff members and over 500 students before the recent expansion. The school building currently in use was constructed in 1983.

"Our students always study in the classrooms that were built over 30 years ago. Some classrooms have seen water seepage in heavy rains, wall cracking or even calcimine dropping. But we can move into the new building soon in a few months," said Liang Deye.

Looking out from the Wulan village committee, we can see the brand-new five-storey building over a hundred meters away. Next to it is the current Wulan Primary School, where students' reading sound echoes around. In September this year, students and teachers are to leave the old buildings and move into the high-standard new one.

In order to optimize the allocation of educational resources, in 2018, Zhongshang proposed to build and expand 40 middle and elementary schools. Wulan Primary School was on the list. Apart from a special fund totaling over 6 million yuan from municipal and township authorities, Wulan village committee also invested an extra 6 million yuan in the project, one third of which was raised by villagers.

It is known that the teaching building to be put into use is the first phase of the entire construction project. It can accommodate 18 classes and an extra 270 students.

Meanwhile, the second phase of the project, covering renovation of the old teaching buildings and the playground with new plastic tracks, is about to start. The third phase is also under planning, with a gymnasium and other supporting facilities to be included.