China is striving to provide tuition-free schooling for children through middle school. This is all a part of the "new socialist countryside" they aim to create. Whatever they call it, it is a good move, but some questions still remain.
Tuition is not the only money students need to pay; they have additional costs that go along with schooling. Plus, many of the rural students must be boarded since schools, especially schools beyond primary level, are far from home villages. And, as it relates to this blog, this move for free tuition will have dramatic affects on the rural economy.
As reported in an article on NewsGD, China put a law of compulsory education in effect in 1986. The problem was that sufficient funding to back it up was not provided. Since school could not ask for tuition without breaking that law, they have had to charge "school construction fees," "tutoring fees," "educational material fees," or any name that works to cover the school's basic costs.
Of course, when the fees are already a bit dodgy, that leaves the door of corrupt opportunity wide open. School officials can choose when, what, and how much they charge. And in some cases, the inevitable result will be abuses which keep children from attending school.
The Chinese government website, China.org.cn, announced this new legislation to provide free tuition for rural primary and secondary students in 2007. There, a very important phrase is added: "all rural students will be exempt from tuition and incidental expenses related to their nine-year compulsory education. That sure sounds like doing away with tuition and all the other costs together. And that is exactly what needs to happen.
I will have to admit, reading that article leaves me with a question, and I do not know if the confusing statistics and goals are intentionally misleading or just poor translations. In places, it sounds like this plan will be in effect for all rural students across the country. When they mention the 150 million children who will benefit, is that all of the children? Is that in agreement with the "all children" statement?
In addition, I had a big question mark when it says that on average every student would save CNY 140 (US$18). That sounds really low to me. For the children I know, the annual figure is in the hundreds, maybe somewhere near 800, but that may include boarding too. I admit, I do not know all there is to know about the government's intentions, but regardless of these clarifications, this plan will make a huge difference to the rural economy.
The biggest expense in China's countryside which forces parents to head out to find work in the big city is education costs for their children. If those costs decrease, also the immediate need to find paying jobs in the city will also decrease. Note, I said "need." They may still want the money to be found in the city.
Maybe peasants will still go out to work. Well, I am sure very large numbers will continue. The draw to earn money may well keep the huge numbers of workers migrating into the cities from falling. Then, with education costs out of the way, they will be able to keep that much more money. More money. That too is a possibility.
One thing is for sure: free tuition will free up money in almost every household, money that can be invested in other ventures, thus boosting the rural economies. Some will gamble it away. Some could already afford education anyway. Some, with the new found freedom from tuition costs, will just stay on the farm now. Most, though, will feel a great burden removed from their shoulders, and the results could make this move the the best possible change to help strengthen rural economies.
