The high school teacher who fled a classroom in Sichuan province leaving his students in danger when the May 12 earthquake struck has found a new job in Beijing.

Fan Meizhong has signed a two-year contract with Keyfind Education School in Haidian district, school spokesman Zhang Wenbin told Xinhua yesterday.

The former Chinese language teacher in a private high school in Dujiangyan city of Sichuan, was nicknamed "Runner Fan" by netizens for fleeing the classroom.

Fan's behavior created a controversy, and the Dujiangyan school later fired him.

But, Zhang said, Fan has been hired by the private school for his extensive teaching experience and talent. At Keyfind, he will conduct research on developing students' potential, raising their interest in learning, and deliver some lectures.

Fan was scheduled to deliver his first lecture on Sunday. But it was canceled after news of his new job got out and the media accused Keyfind of using him for publicity. Fan is in Sichuan now, and will be in Beijing in a few days. But the school has not decided what to do next about his job, Zhang said.

"Fan, as a person, needs to live," Zhang said. "We hope the media will be tolerant and grant him some living space.

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, December 25, 2008)