'Gaokao migrants' add to unfairness in education

Students, parents and locals in Mianyang, Southwest China's Sichuan province, wave goodbye to students heading for the college extrance exam site, June 5, 2014. [Photo/CFP]

Almost 1,500 non-resident students, who have been registered in high schools in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region but have seldom attended classes, have reportedly been dismissed. These "college entrance exam (gaokao) migrants", many of whom are from the neighboring Hebei province, exploit the loopholes in the country's household registration system. By enrolling in high schools of less developed regions as local students they can exploit the lower admission score criteria in gaokao. They did not even have to show up at the Inner Mongolia schools unless for some compulsory exams. Comments:

The latest exposure of "gaokao migration" in Inner Mongolia indicates that fundamental reform, not some makeshift measures, is urgently needed. Given there is little likelihood of a unified exam in China, it thus requires more efficient policy and financial support to equip the less developed areas with proper educational resources.

Beijing Times, May 28

By illegally relocating their original school registrations and household permits to some remote areas, the gaokao migrants born in regions of abundant educational resources have made it harder for local students to receive higher education. This has violated their lawful interests. The parents' misconduct in Inner Mongolia's case may even constitute an offense. To prevent them from getting away with impunity, local officials have to disclose the information of all those involved as soon as possible.

rednet.cn, May 28

The parents who gave their children a double identity by behind-the-scene operations, showed their contempt for educational fairness in the country, and are bound to pay a high price for doing so. Also, the inspection and supervision authorities should take those nominal school registrations seriously given there must have been corruption involved.

cnhubei.com, May 28