A key ingredient for countries striving to achieve "Education For All" is the availability of trained qualified teachers with favourable working conditions. The goal is an elusive one, even for some developed countries, though progress is being made toward it. The problem is particularly challenging in poor rural areas of developing countries where qualified teachers are reluctant to work or employing authorities cannot afford to hire them. This paper examines this situation in the context of a Western province in China (Gansu). It considers the role, characteristics and status of non-governmental ("daike") teachers and discusses issues that arise from their employment.