More than 40 percent of the public think China's education system gives poor value for money according to a survey published March 12 by Horizon Research Consultancy Group (Horizon Group). Only 16 percent think they are getting their money's worth.

41.8 percent of those polled said the education system gives poor value for money, 16 percent said it gives value for money, while 42.2 percent said the system was basically satisfactory. Rural residents are the happiest, with only 37.6 complaining education is overpriced, as against 49.1 percent of urban, and 48.9 percent of town residents.

Chinese parents have traditionally invested heavily in their children's education but some have begun to question soaring tuition fees and other costs, especially given the low rate of graduate employment.

The Horizon survey is not the first to show dissatisfaction with China's school system. A 2006 poll by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) put "illegal fees charged by schools" at the top of a list of price-gouging complaints. A 2005 Resident's Quality of Life survey, also conducted by Horizon, suggested that school fees are a major cause of poverty for up to 50 percent of poor families. Rural families spend on average one third, and urban families a quarter of their income on education.

Respondents are generally happier with the government's efforts to improve education with 52.2 percent of rural and 44.7 percent of urban residents expressing satisfaction. According to the survey, just 15.2 percent of people are unhappy with the government’s record, but the figure is higher among the better educated.

Horizon interviewed a random sample of 3,355 people between the ages of 16 and 60, including 1,560 urban residents, 924 small town residents and 871 rural residents.

(China.org.cn by Wu Nanlan March 24, 2008)