From AP, via L.A. Daily News:

Narrowing the rich-poor divide is a top priority, China’s communist leaders say. Earlier this year, Premier Wen Jiabao promised that by 2007, the government will see to it that every Chinese child gets nine years of schooling, with free textbooks for the poorest.

How that will be enforced, especially in remote villages like this, remains to be seen.

Dozens of children live in this village, but only 16 were attending class this spring. Villagers say most dropped out at the beginning of the semester after picking up their books and now help their parents with farm work.

Thanks to Yong Liu for contributing this link through del.icio.us.