(FILE)

Qin Kaimei, a primary school teacher in central China's Hubei Province, offered herself up as a hostage on June 10 when a man armed with a knife, a homemade bomb, and bottles of gasoline broke into her classroom during school. When she and her 50 sixth-grade students were taken hostage, Qin entreated the man to let her stay while releasing her students. The man agreed. Later, a local official replaced Qin before police came and shot the suspect dead.

Despite 18 years' excellent work in the school, Qin is still a substitute teacher because she's not fully qualified under local policy. A local official hinted that discussions about promoting Qin to regular teacher status were being held following the hostage-taking incident.