The Chinese proverb 'a book holds a house of gold' has been used by teachers for centuries to motivate students and instil in them the idea that good academic performance is a ticket to success.
But for Lie Zhiwei , a 26-year-old graduate in Guangzhou, the old wisdom no longer stands the test of time. Lie and thousands of others like him have discovered that a good education is no longer a guarantee of prosperity - and may actually lead to a mountain of debt.
Lie graduated from Guangzhou Land and Property Management Vocational School with flying colours in 2002. But because he was too poor to pay for his tuition, the school withheld his diploma. Without it, potential employers will not recognise his academic record, and he has been shut out from better-paying jobs.
Lie and others in a similar position have ended up in a trap created by the mainland's rapid expansion of tertiary education in which schools scramble for students even though some have no financial means to support their study.
'I feel trapped in a maze with no exit. I wasn't even given a chance to show what I've got to offer,' said Lie, who is now working at a karaoke bar as a DJ, earning 800 yuan (HK$925) a month. 'Without a document to prove my graduation, there is no difference, whether you are educated or a street vendor.'
Across the country, many schools are using the same tactics to force students to pay up. Mainland media and internet forums are filled with stories of debt-laden graduates asking for help.