Elder educator embarks on 9th educational mission in Liangshan

Xin Yuanhua, 78-year-old educator from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, teaches students in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

Xin Yuanhua, a 78-year-old educator in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, embarked on his ninth teaching journey to Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province on May 14.

For Xin, a former vice-principal at Ningbo University of Technology, retirement didn't lead to idleness but rather a commitment to sharing his automation expertise through engaging science lectures and hands-on experiments with children at youth centers, schools, and local communities.

In 2015, the then-69-year-old Xin responded to a call for volunteers to teach in rural Jiangxi province, a decision that marked the beginning of his enduring dedication to educational missions.

"Over 200 volunteers applied but only 24 were selected. I was worried that volunteers over 50 years old were no longer recruited," Xin said. But due to the scarcity of volunteers with a background in science, he was fortunate to be chosen.

Driven by the insatiable thirst for knowledge among children, his teaching philosophy centers on providing practical experiences. Many of the schools he visits lack opportunities for hands-on science exploration, leaving students with a purely theoretical, textbook-based understanding.

Since then, Xin has been traveling to rural areas in places such as Guangxi, Gansu and Sichuan.

After participating in organized educational missions, Xin now undertakes solo expeditions. In 2019, his wife, Teng Chong, joined him, teaching mental health classes alongside his science experiments.

Each experiment requires careful planning and innovation. Xin's dedication is evident in his ability to conduct multiple experiments in one class, captivating students with demonstrations like instant ice-making and levitating apples.

This time, the couple are joined by 11 retired teachers specializing in various subjects. The local authorities have established a team of senior teachers for educational missions.

"I'm glad that I've inspired more colleagues to join the educational missions. In the future, we hope to have 50 retired teachers going to Liangshan for educational missions every year," Xin said.

Apart from teaching, the team will also assist local young teachers in lesson planning and improving teaching methods.