Education enables left-behind children to dream big
- By Wu Jin
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 26, 2020
Unlike previous years when left-behind children imitated their parents to quit schooling and seek jobs in cities at a relatively young age, rural children today had more ambitious plans for their development, thanks to the power of education.
"Their psyches have been transformed, pushing them to accomplish dreams in courageous ways," said Zhang Hua, a teacher from Qihang School, a private school targeting nine-year compulsory education in Qidong county, Hunan province.
Similar to Leiyang, Qidong county is an area known for its export of labor estimated at over 300,000 people. Today, the school has accommodated over 2,000 left-behind children, accounting for 90% of the student pool.
Desiring to change their destinies, many left-behind children are distinguished by an independent and unremitting hard-working spirit, ingrained characteristics needed for those growing up amid adversity.
"It has been normal for left-behind children to develop in a disadvantaged environment. However, to give full play to their unyielding spirit, they may envision a future full of possibilities," said Lin Danhua, a psychological professor at Beijing Normal University.
By involving 16,317 respondents aging between nine and 20 from 60 primary, secondary and high schools across 10 provinces, a survey conducted by Lin showed more than 70% left-behind children possessing the merits of filial piety, gratitude, patriotism, ambition and perseverance.
In addition, 60% left-behind children are independent in caring themselves and dealing with family affairs.
However, according to Zhang Xiaoyong, director of the Leiyang Education Bureau, with the left-behind children there is a dichotomy between highly self-disciplined students, such as, Zhong Fangrong, and the dropouts who without appropriate incentives that may lead them into committing crimes.
From a wider perspective, problems facing left-behind children remain challenging. Without appropriate education, the vicious circle between dropouts and lowly-paid migrant labor that consequently leads to a new generation of left-behind children may never end.
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