Kindergarten closed
Reuters photographer Aly Song was on assignment in the Chinese province of Henan, when he spotted a village kindergarten and went in to take pictures. The next day, his pictures were widely published in Chinese online media, and some people began criticising the authorities, saying they should give schools like this more funding. The following day, local government closed the kindergarten down.
There were 24 children aged between two and five in the kindergarten before it was closed.
Most of the children's parents went to seek better working opportunities in big cities like Beijing and Hangzhou, so many of the youngsters live with their grandparents.
Most see their parents once or twice a year, when they come back for holidays.
In the kindergarten the children were taught things like reading and writing.
The building was quite cold, so they wore their coat indoors.
Sitting at their desks, they look up at the blackboard.
One boy plays at the front of the class.
A boy eats a snack, while others play.
Members of the class gather round to warm their hands over a fire.
Three of the kindergarten students are picked up on an electric bicycle.
Students walk home after class two days before the school was closed.
