Hua, did you see the news about Shenjingzi Primary School? It closed just a month after the new semester started. A 61-year-old school is suddenly gone.

I saw it. It really was sudden. The children had just adjusted to the new semester, and now they have to transfer. Parents must be caught off guard.

The education bureau’s response was quite cold. They said, ‘The number of school-age children has decreased, and the merger is natural.’ But isn’t this really about the population crisis?

Yes. The birth rate in the Northeast is low, and population outflow is serious. Several parents of my students are planning to move south. It’s a pity — schools like Shenjingzi carry so many memories.

It’s not just emotional, it’s also practical. Think about it — 18 teachers! Even if they’re on official posts, reallocating them isn’t easy.

As a teacher, I totally understand. Being suddenly transferred from a familiar environment can be hard. Some might even be reassigned to remote schools or temporarily without placement.

I think education can’t just rely on ‘mergers’ to solve enrollment problems. We should consider things systematically — population policies, resource distribution, things like school buses or flexible school zoning.

Exactly. Education isn’t just about maintaining numbers, it’s about quality and fairness. Otherwise, we’re ‘saving buildings but sacrificing children.’