To help alleviate poverty in extremely poor areas, the initiative to offer 14 years of free school education in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province will equip the poor with knowledge-based skills to raise themselves and develop their hometowns, the Guangming Daily commented.
Providing free education in senior high schools in the province, a policy which started in 2016, shows great support for the drive to alleviate poverty through education in remote areas. This is a shrewd way to encourage more children to benefit from more extensive educational resources, the newspaper said.
According to a UNESCO study, the national average years of schooling and per capita GDP are closely related - the more years spent in formal education, the more the increase in per capita GDP. This means education plays an essential and sustainable role in poverty alleviation. Having a well-rounded, successful educational experience will change the fortunes of children, the Guangming Daily said.
At present, China mandates nine years of compulsory education, but that still lags behind other nations which stipulate 12 years of schooling. In line with China’s conditions, it is not feasible to realize 12 or more years’ compulsory education nationwide now, but it can be put into practice and promoted step by step, as Yunnan Province or other remote areas could pioneer it, the report suggested.
Yet, the Guangming Daily warned that the quality of education must be ensured and supervised when most children can access schools. If courses are too boring or inconsequential to attract students, they won't take their study seriously, and the target to alleviate poverty through education would not be completely met.
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