Educators discuss fair opportunities for all
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail CNTV, November 14, 2012
The News Center of the 18th CPC National Congress has held an online discussion on equality of education in China. During the hour-long interview, officials including Minister of Education, Yuan Rengui, interacted with netizens over ways to improve China's education system.
Education equality has been a long standing subject of debate in Chinese society. The country has been striving to provide fair opportunities for all, but it hasn't been easy.
A website designer said, "I don't think the education system is fair. Many people have moved to bigger cities and worked there for more than ten years but their children still have to go back to their hometown to sit the college entrance exams. My child may face the same problem one day."
Pensioner said, "Tuition fees are too high, especially for low-income groups. Those with low incomes should be taken more into account and better education opportunities should be open to them. Educational reform also needs to be addressed."
The online discussion invited several educators and officials from different provinces to hold a live Q & A session with netizens, as education equality is one of the main focuses of the 18th CPC National Congress. Hours before the online discussion began, hundreds of questions had already been posted. Among them, people were eager to find out the policies that will cover cross-city college entrance exams, education fairness for children of migrant workers, and whether there will be salary increases for teachers in impoverished areas.
In one of the messages, a netizen interested in teaching resource distribution suggested "the government should encourage more qualified teachers to work in deprived areas for two to three years, with beneficial policies, and provide opportunities for more grass-root level teachers to receive professional training in schools."
During the one-hour session, panelists addressed questions about resource distribution. They pledge to improve hardware facilities in less developed areas, and to expand enrolment programs for students with financial difficulties.
In recent years, central and local government have continuously increased investment in education and on average total spending has seen a growth of 20 percent every year. More than 2 trillion yuan is expected to be spent on education this year.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)