A rural primary school has awarded 20 excellent students with piglets each in Zhaotong, Southwest China's Yunnan province, aiming to encourage them to study hard and help their families to achieve better economic conditions.

Hou Changliang, a voluntary teacher at the Xiangyang Primary School in Haizi town of Yiliang county, said the school awarded the 20 students on Thursday afternoon.

The students and their parents were very happy to get the piglets, which weighed around 10 to 15 kilograms, said Hou.

He said the piglets were donated by some kind-hearted men, and they hoped it could encourage the students and help their families.