Children forced to scale mountainside to get to school

Footage of children in southwest China climbing an 800m cliff to reach their school has prompted authorities to take action.

The only way for the children from Atuler village in Sichuan province to reach their classroom is to scale an 800m rock face using old wooden ladders and ropes.

An elevator which used to ferry the children and other villagers to the mountain's base was shut down due to the cost of power and maintenance with most of the local population living on as little as a $1 a day.

The village chief said the perilous 90-minute trek is so dangerous up to eight people had died after losing their grip, Being News reports.

To ensure the safety of the children, many of the kids have opted to board at the school – only returning to the mountaintop twice a month to see their family, The Guardian reports.

Footage of the perilous climb has sparked government action with the promise of building a steel staircase until a permanent solution can be found.