Counseling as vital as monetary help for poor students

The bidding getting underway at the charity auction.[Photo/Agencies]

Two among the about 500 first-year undergraduates from poor families that Peking University admitted this year received an annual allowance of 20,000 yuan ($3,140) on the day of their registration. The university has also started providing mental support to poor students this year. Comments:

The absence of financial support has deprived students from poor families of many things including the chance to enrich their knowledge with the help of non-syllabus books and from traveling. After entering prestigious institutions such as Peking University, they might appear puzzled and helpless, even self-abased. Which means they need proper counseling from the university. Therefore, what Peking University has done should be emulated by other universities in order to cater to students' material and spiritual needs.

China Youth Daily, Sept 7

Peking University's plan to provide poor students with mental support is welcome because they need such help more than other students as they lack social experience. This is not discrimination against the disadvantaged group, as some have claimed. Instead, such help is the university's special way of caring for disadvantaged students.

Jinan Daily, Sept 7

Compared with material difficulties, psychological problems such as an inferiority complex are more likely to destroy a person. Indeed, direct financial aid can solve some of the financial problems of poor students, but it should come with proper counseling so as to fundamentally change the status quo. Timely and proper counseling can motivate such students and help them improve their academic performances and personalities.

Cnhubei.com, Sept 6

Poor students suffering from an inferiority complex need more than the routine material help. They also need mental support, which to some extent is more important and urgent. Thanks to Peking University's human-oriented plan, the fresh students feel encouraged to bravely face life.

cjn.cn, Sept 6