ABSTRACT
This opening chapter presents a review of the varied contexts within which the education service operates. Education is, in many ways, intangible as it usually can only be seen when aligned with one of the contexts within which it resides. However, education is inseparable from aspects of social and economic development. The chapter shows the extensive nature of the economic, cultural and social challenges in the area which the local government and education departments face in the course of their work. It consists of five parts. The first introduces the geographical location of Xingwen and the second is about the changing demographics of the county. After that, the third describes the agriculture and industry and the fourth is about transport infrastructure. The last section covers the economic development of the county.
