University is still not the first choice for China's rural youth

• Source: The Global Times
• [14:31 May 07 2009]
• Comments

Troubling environment

“Instead, I think the real reason behind the lack of interest to pursue higher education is the troubling education environment and schooling structure,” Zhu said.

Geng recalled though he did get relatively good marks in class, he lost his patience to study since the second year of senior middle school.

“Seeing more and more classmates leaving school to work in the big cities, you just don’t feel like sitting there and reading anymore,” Geng admitted.

In addition, some parents with high expectations are not supportive if their children are not accepted by first-ranked universities, which seem to guarantee a bright employment future.

But sometimes public attitudes can be changed just as easily. The experience from Wang Shuna, a woman born in a village in Hengshui city, Hebei Province may be a good example.

“I am the first person, also the first girl in my village to be accepted by universities. After I settled down in Beijing, more and more parents became supportive of their kids, especially their daughters to continue studying,” Wang said.

“It seems the first person who is enrolled into university in the village becomes an example for others to follow. If it is a positive model, public opinion for further education would increase,” Wang added.

Professor Zhu believes this volatile shift in attitudes reflects rural China’s education  environment.

“Most of the rural students, even those who are successfully enrolled in tertiary education, can only go to third-class universities or junior colleges. The imbalanced education development between cities and rural areas still put their future in doubt,” she said.

The government claims it is doing its best to close the gap -- 299.2 billion yuan was allocated to improve rural education in 2007, including teaching conditions, raising teachers’ salaries and encouraging more graduates to go back to teach, according to Tian Zuyin, deputy director of the Finance Department of the Ministry of Education.

“However, it was a long-term battle,” Professor Zhu says. “We should offer more options to rural teenagers and improve the whole schooling system.”.

 “Not everyone has to go to liberal high schools. Vocational training which is practical and better connected with the working class, should play a larger role in further education and help resolve employment difficulties for rural youth,” Professor Zhu suggested.

If this is the priority, this may be good news for Geng. Almost a year after he left home, he is still hopping from one job to another, trying to find a suitable one.

“If I had another chance, I would choose to go to college even if I needed to get a bank loan,” Geng said in hindsight. “I don’t know if I would get a good job through that path, but at least it’s worth trying.”