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CHINA, Jilin Province: Three years ago, China pledged to spend over US$27 billion over a five-year period to improve rural education in the country. But results of the programme seem to be patchy.
In China’s northeast province of Jilin, some fourth graders from Sanmajia elementary school in Songyuan County count themselves lucky to be in school. Children here and elsewhere have benefited from the exemption of school fees imposed since 2007.
Zhao He, a rural school student, said: "Sometimes, I have to help my parents reap the harvests, such as during autumn."
Shi Baoyue, rural school principal, said: "Every year, the local education board will assist orphans and children from very poor families by providing them with subsidies."
But their counterparts from the backward western regions and those in mountainous and remote areas are not so fortunate. Despite the nine-year compulsory education system, some rural children still find it difficult to attend school.
That is because some parents simply cannot afford to send their children to school, while other parents want their children to be around to perform farm chores.
To ensure that more rural children attend school, the central government has encouraged wealthier provinces to assist poorer ones by donating money and teaching materials.
A special fund has also been set up to distribute free textbooks to children. There are even plans to promote distance learning through the use of information technology.
Critics said the plan is ambitious, given that most rural children have yet to enjoy basic schooling facilities.
Wang Guixiang, another rural school principal, said: "We hope that some classrooms can be equipped with televisions, but we have no funds for that. We also do not have any teachers right now to teach art and music."
There is also the question of continuing their education beyond elementary school. The stark reality is that more than half of the children gathered here are unlikely to complete middle school or other vocational institutes.
Many middle schools are too far away for those living in remote areas and travelling there is costly.
Some observers said a big picture strategy on rural development is needed. These include raising farmers' incomes, improving farming infrastructure and working out the transfer of land ownership rights.
Doing all that means that these children can be given a chance to fulfil their dreams. - CNA/vm
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