Small gesture, big step for equal education

BEIJING - A long-awaited gesture by China's metropolitan authorities has helped the country take a big leap forward in offering equal education to children of urbanites and migrants alike.

When it comes to education, probably nothing could cheer the millions of migrant workers more than the announcements by Beijing and Shanghai cities and Guangdong province on Sunday to gradually allow their children to attend local senior high schools and sit college entrance exams.

The plans, based on how long the migrant parents have worked in a city and whether the children completed junior high school there, are the latest among those outlined by a total of 13 provinces and municipalities.

Although still quite prudent and could take up to four years to be fully in place, the plans have demonstrated the genuine good will of developed regions to take seriously the welfare of migrant workers who have contributed immensely to the rise of cities.

Equal access to education resources all across the country has never been so imperative in today's China with more than 250 million farmers working in cities and a dogmatic household registration system confining their children to schooling in their hometown.

Previous government efforts have led to children attending primary and junior high schools in cities where their parents work, but what becomes of them afterwards has remained controversial.

Urban parents grow concerned that equal competitors from out of town will put their own children in a less advantaged position when accessing already scarce school resources.

But to migrants, the problem becomes more visible each day as they gradually settle down in cities with a stable income - schooling can separate parents from their children for years.

Now, with China's further push for urbanization, the timing could not be better to tackle this issue. It is not only humane, but also wise.

Humane because millions of families can be reunited and children can build up healthier personalities. Wise because more farmers will be willing to stay in cities for work.

In recent years, factory owners in coastal regions have been faced with periodic labor shortages as younger generations of farmers have been less tempted to work away from home, particularly those with children.

The rising urge for migrant farmers to immerse themselves into urban life has also made reform plans more urgent for authorities to ensure equal access to public services, as was put forward by a report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November.

However, in spite of all the good will and proper plans, equality in education cannot be expected to be achieved soon, just like in many other aspects of Chinese society.

Aside from the wide urban-rural gap between facilities and teaching staff, education quality varies hugely even within urban communities. It is still uncertain what kind of schools will be open to young newcomers.

At the same time, it is vital for supervisory bodies to oversee the application and approval processes to ensure fair play and prevent this good deed from becoming another hotbed for corruption and social discontent.

Related readings:

Reform plans published for migrants' education

Policies in place to ensure equal rights to education