Editorials

Tweak strategy

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-06-04 07:54

The number of candidates appearing for the national college entrance examinations has declined for the second year in a row after peaking in 2008.

This being the case, institutions of higher learning have to carefully weigh the need for expanding enrollments. The national strategy for higher education also has to be adjusted.

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Candidates from rural areas have been on the up, and their total number now forms 61.9 percent of the more than 9.57 million taking these exams.

It is positive to witness the possibility of more rural students getting a chance to receive higher education. Yet, the question is whether most of these graduates will land jobs in cities.

If they do, urban employment, particularly in big cities, will come under heavy pressure. If they do not, then where would they apply their university learning?

The medical universities directly under the auspices of the Ministry of Education will enroll 5,000 students from rural areas this year. These students will receive education free of charge for five years after which they return to work in hospitals in their hometowns. This indeed serves the needs of their relatively underdeveloped hometowns.

In fact, hospitals in many poor towns are badly in need of professionally trained doctors while those in cities are overstaffed.

In such a scenario, the above plan will help solve the problem. These graduates will not only help improve the quality of healthcare in underdeveloped towns but will also not need to search for jobs after their graduation.

Similar ideas are needed to staff underdeveloped regions with badly needed professionals in other fields, thus creating better job opportunities for graduates.

(China Daily 06/04/2010 page8)