Education quality in rural areas must be improved

Last year, 94.2 percent of all primary and secondary school students finished compulsory education in China. Since the country has a huge population, it is possible that many children, most of them in rural areas, cannot complete compulsory education every year.

The large-scale closure of village schools in the 2000s is a major reason for school dropouts in the countryside. Also, since many students have to walk long distances to reach school in rural areas, some rural families are reluctant to send their kids to school.

Although compulsory education is provided free in towns and cities, many children left in the care of their grandparents in rural areas after their parents migrate to cities for work cannot receive even compulsory education if schools near their homes are closed. And even if such children graduate from high school, they cannot receive higher education, as their parents cannot afford to pay for it.

Boarding schools in rural areas do offer a solution, but their performance has been relatively poor, as some children are too young to live in dormitories.

In my opinion, children below grade three should not be sent to boarding schools, as home education and family care are critical during their growing up years. And school buses should be introduced to make sure students can visit home once or twice a week.

Moreover, rural teachers should be better treated to attract more competent teachers to work in rural areas.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.