Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed in the annual government work report on March 5 that, starting from this year, impoverished students in certain rural areas who are subject to the nine years of national compulsory education would be exempted from tuition and other related fees and provided with financial support if they live on campus. The scheme will spread to the entire countryside of China in 2007. This has been warmly applauded by the nation's media.

Gov't to ensure fair education

An article by Ding Dong in the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post says it is the government's responsibility to guarantee fair access to education for everyone.

It is the government's obligation to provide compulsory education and the citizens?right to receive it. However, in recent years, the financial burden of education has driven many rural students out of school. The clearly-stipulated duty for rural county governments to finance local education is obviously too much for many in the nation's central and western parts which have found it difficult even to pay salaries to teachers on time.

It is a function of education to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor and promote social justice. However, in China, education has, in general, led to injustice in society. Those with power and money can send their children to study in foreign countries, while impoverished farmers and low-income urban dwellers are either barred from entering schools or deprived of their dignity even if they manage to get there.

Fundamental systematic adjustment is required to realize compulsory education in rural areas in two to three years. It is the government's responsibility to ensure fairness in education. It is the government's negligence if education enlarges the social gap rather than leading to social justice.

Besides, renovation in systems may also resolve the shortage of high-quality teachers in rural schools. Why can't we restore the practice that students of normal universities are exempted from tuition fees? At least we can have a certain proportion of students enjoying free education and stipends but then having to teach for several years in rural areas after graduation. This would give rural areas a chance for educational improvement.

A fate-changing policy

An article by Lu Yongjian from the Xinhua News Agency says that the policy as announced by Premier Wen will change the lives of millions.

Statistics show that generally the annual tuition and other education-related fees for students in rural primary and middle schools amount to 300 to 500 yuan (US$36 to 60) and account for more than half of the yearly cash income of some impoverished rural households. There are more than 26 million people in China's rural areas whose annual net income is only just over 600 yuan (US$72). For these families, it is a huge pressure both economically and psychologically to support a child in school.

From a macroeconomic perspective, the measure will guarantee the right to education for the new generation of rural citizens. And the overall improvement in quality in the population and the labour force will provide better human resources for economic and social development in rural China and the nation as a whole.

The restoration of the college entrance examination more than two decades ago has allowed many children of ordinary households access to universities through fair competition and changed their lives completely. And now, the new policy will allow poor students in rural areas to enjoy fairness at the very beginning of their education.

(See "Visions of hardship? page 7)