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| Private education needs more gov't support |
| CCTV.COM 2003-03-16 13:03:54 |
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While the call goes out for more money for compulsory education, especially in poorer western China, there's also an alternative which is beginning to gain popularity among CPPCC delegates－－privately owned schools.
There are 60,000 non－public schools in China, but that number only accounts for 4 percent of all schools, public or private. The central government has recognized that funding for public schools will not be enough to meet the needs of the country's huge population, so a law took effect earlier this year to promote privately－funded education and regulate its operation.
While many potential investors are still avoiding private schools, there's one CPPCC member who was one of the first to invest.
CPPCC member Zhang Jieting is the chairman of Beijing 21st Century Education Group. According to the chairman, "there are still a lot of different policies for public and private schools, especially financial ones. Public schools are subsidized by the government and can get low－interest, or even interest－free loans from financial institutions. But it's impossible for a private school to get a loan. That's a major obstacle to the growth of private schools."
Zhang Jieting invested over 100 million yuan （or 12 million US$） to establish the 21st Century school ten years ago, when private schools were still rare in China. In the past decade he has expanded his business into a group of 5 schools that provide kindergarten－to－college education. But it still isn't easy.
Zhang said: "I believe that education could be a big industry like media and IT in the 21st century. I know that many investors want to invest in education, but most of them are holding back, waiting for the support of a more sound policy."
To make his point heard, Zhang delivered a proposal to the CPPCC meeting, covering issues such as loans and equal treatment of teachers when it comes to job related insurance benefits.
Zhang Jieting didn't receive any immediate feedback on his proposals this week. But he's convinced that unless the government changes the rules governing public and private schools, caution will keep investors away.
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Editor: Xiao Wei CCTV.com
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