They do exercises on the sports ground. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

Besides their academic studies, as they were away from home for the first time in their lives, she had to take care of the girls and teach them how to live on their own and handle chores, such as making beds and doing the laundry.

She accompanied them on walks around the town, to get familiar with the place and learn about traffic rules. She also guided them on women's issues and hygiene, and took them to see the doctor when they fell ill.

She says that, compared with the past, children today seem less able to lead an independent life, and some don't even know how to do household chores. Many are left-behind children and their grandparents would take on everything themselves. But, after two or three months at school, they master these basic life skills.

Paying it forward

The first all-girl class, in 1995, only had 44 students. Among them was Pan Wenying, 37, of the Yao ethnic group, who now teaches Chinese language at the primary school.

"I applied for a job at the school because I feel attached to my alma mater. I'm glad to return as a teacher, shouldering the responsibility of educating the next generation of our motherland," Pan says.