Give skill its due chance

He is a writer and has been the sole author for a monthly children's magazine for the past 24 years. But Zheng Yuanjie had only four years of formal education because of the interruption caused by the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Owing partly to his unique experience, Zheng has been a long-time critic of the country's education system, one of his famous quotes being: "Exams turn children into old folks."

His criticism is not restricted to words but translates into action. He started teaching his son at home when he was in the second year of secondary school and turned him into an entrepreneur, who now owns a professional photo studio in Beijing.