33-year-old sanitation worker and mother inspired by seeing people with grey hair memorising notes while at work makes master’s programme
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenZoey ZhangPublished: 9:00am, 8 Jun 2026A university cleaner in southwestern China has secured a place in a master’s programme after a year of self-study while raising two children.
Li Jia, 33, from Chengdu in Sichuan province, works full-time as a cleaner at Chengdu University of Technology.
She and her husband once ran a restaurant near the campus, but it closed after struggling to stay afloat, according to local reports.
Li later took a sanitation job at the university, valuing its stability, proximity to home and fixed hours, which made it easier to care for her children.
Her cleaning route often overlaps with venues for national exams, bringing her into contact with students from across the country.
