Achieving education equality
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In addition, education resources have been unfairly allocated, and the country is increasingly unequally developed. Not only has China's Gini coefficient reached a threatening 0.47, but the disparity between coastal regions and the hinterland is ever enlarging. More than half of Chinese still live in rural areas, and they're not offered equal-education opportunities. The failure of adequate budgeting and appropriating undercuts students' chances to afford education, and this disproportionately affects those in rural and remote areas.
Even worse, for over two decades the entire country failed to observe a key portion of the Compulsory Education Law, which waved tuition fees. Shanghai finally started to follow the law as late as 2008, but it's imaginable how less economically advanced areas would remain behind in this regard.
For China to achieve true socialism it would mean equality in education, health care and politics as well as economic development. It might be ridiculous to criticize the socialism in North Korea, because at least it renders a more thorough free education to its youth.
China's long-term violation of its own compulsory education law and the toleration of that violation are sufficiently disgusting, but lately there's more unfairness. Some renowned universities have adopted policies to admit more students from their own cities in the name of supporting the local government and economy. Though some bias is unavoidable, these universities must recognize that they're state universities, and it's their duty to serve all citizens equally. Some inequality can exist in order to give preference to non-local students from less-developed areas. China needs this type of affirmative action to support disadvantageous groups.
Another kind of inequality is the abuse of preferential admission of students who qualify as minorities or students with unique backgrounds. If they genuinely qualify, fine; however, too often there are reports of non-minorities disguised as minorities to gain favorable treatment.
A socialist country must rid all unfairness from its education. China gains credibility if it abides by the rule of law. It's strategically crucial for the nation's future to guarantee adequate public spending for education and a proper monitoring mechanism should be implemented to guard against waste and fraud.
Deputies to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, must assume responsibility in safeguarding the nation's education, and they must be held accountable. Our leaders must become more aware and act professionally within the present political system. It is fundamental for the health of the next generation.
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/node_7082361.htm
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