Source: CCTV.com

05-10-2006 16:06

The Chinese government has been promoting nine-years of compulsory education nationwide for decades. But in the vast poor rural areas, poverty causes many youngsters to drop out.

The rolling mountains of Yunnan are home to the Xijiekou Township. The only product of the place are these bare rocks. The average income of each family is less than 2000 yuan a year, about 200 US dollars.

But in this desolate and remote mountainous area, there's a school, as good as the ones in the cities.

The students here are getting the same education and have the same idol as the kids their age beyond the mountain.

Wang Qiang, Principal of Xijiekou school said: "Our school is on the border of the country. We have more than 800 students now. Most of them are from the minority ethnic groups living nearby."

Xijiekou has both a primary school and a junior high school. The curriculum includes putonghua, English, mathematics, geography, physics, chemistry and politics.

For farmers who struggle to survive, education for their children is a luxury beyond their means. The central government has made policies requiring the local government to scrap tuition fees for the primary school and junior high school students in the Western regions. The students are also given living subsidies.

But the rest of the expenses is still a large amount of money for these poor families that earn less than 200 US dollars a year.

Yang Bingliang, Vice Principal of Xijiekou school said: "As educators, we are very sad to see the students dropping out because of money. So after years of searching, we have found a way to help the poor students by lowering living costs."

That's why there are vegetable gardens and orchard near the classrooms. All students take at least one labor class a week. They raise the fruits and vegetables which will be served in their meals when harvested.

Feng Jixiang, teacher of Xijiekou school said: "These vegetables let the student have cheaper meals. Many students prefer to stay in school during vacation, because they can't eat so well or cheaply at home."

"I have a little brother," the girl told me. The money she has saved from her meals can help him go to school.

"I think this is good for us," her classmate added. It's not just the money saved. They can use the farming techniques they have learned at school if they don't go on to higher education after graduation.

Li Hongping, Director of Education Bureau of Shilin County said: "The way that Xijiekou School has followed has become a model for other schools in our county. It facilitates the students to enter, to learn, and to stay in the school, without additional resources from the government."

Many students told me they want to go to the outside world. But first things first. That means going to school to get the knowledge they need. And then they can leave the mountains, and get away from those bare rocks.

 

Editor:Chen Minji