Quality education alone can't uplift rural kids
Earlier this year, the Yishui county government in Shandong province issued a document saying students' test scores and enrolment rates would be the only criteria to judge the quality of education in secondary schools. Such judgments have been an age-old problem with Chinese society, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:
The Yishui county government has decided to judge the quality of education in secondary schools on the basis of students' marks and enrolment rates, creating a controversy. Though its move can be criticized from many aspects, the Yishui government has its difficulties.
On one hand, if a county government simply turns a blind eye to falling enrolment rates because the quality of education has been raised, students' parents would start doubting its administrative capabilities. On the other, education is in many ways related to the enrolment rate of the children living in rural areas.
We should realize that providing quality education might be more costly in rural areas than in big cities and will not solve the problem.
First, students in metropolises have more opportunities than their rural counterparts. City students get all kinds of chances to broaden their visions and achieve all-round development. The more open an environment one gets, the greater insight he or she is supposed to have.
Second, for many children fighting with poverty, the national college entrance exam is the only way they can change their fate. Without going to top colleges, they are not likely to get jobs better than migrant workers.
For them, social reality opens the door that can lead to a decent life, something that quality education alone can't. Hence, they have no choice but to depend on the college entrance exam.
So providing quality education alone will not ensure all-round development of rural children if simultaneously the social conditions are not improved.
(China Daily 11/11/2009 page9)
