Elementary school awards students with 1 kilo of pork

An elementary school in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region awarded each student who did well in the final exam with a piece of pork instead of cash rewards or stationery at the end-of-term ceremony this year, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The school’s practice was welcomed among low-income households and also applauded as “down-to-earth” by Chinese netizens.

A total of 50 students from first to fifth grade who achieved grades above 80 in both Chinese and math were awarded with 1kg of pork each, according to Zhang Shijie, principal of the Zhiliao Elementary School in Zhiliao Village.

Zhang said they came up with the idea in order to strengthen the interaction between the school and families. He said in the past some students used up all their cash rewards even before their family members learned they had won the prize.

A woman surnamed Yang from the village, who currently works in Beijing, donated 2,927 yuan (US$442) to the school, who spent 1,425 yuan to purchase over 50kg of pork from a poor family in the village. 

The remaining funds will be used as future rewards.