Rural schools to be upgraded

The State Council, China’s Cabinet, released a guideline on Wednesday to improve facilities for primary and middle schools in rural areas and boost teacher welfare as part of the country’s endeavors to balance public services and revitalize the countryside.

Small schools in villages, with no more than 100 students, and boarding schools in towns, are the focus of the document.

Its goal was to develop rural education with better school planning, more public resources, and improved educational services. It required schools in villages be built near children’s homes. Students in first to third grade should not board at school, and commuting time should be no more than half an hour.

Small schools with just a few students can be merged with other schools.

The guideline urged improvement in school facilities, such as basic information technology equipment, facilities for arts and sports, better sanitation services, transportation and safety infrastructure.

Moreover, more incentives should encourage high-quality teachers to pursue careers at rural schools. Training programs to boost exchanges among teachers at rural and urban schools should be carried out, said the guideline.

Salary raises should be ensured for teachers working in rural schools. The guideline said average salaries for rural teachers should be approximate to, or more than, the average salaries for local governmental officials. Meanwhile, rural teachers will benefit from affordable housing projects, which will ease their financial burden when it comes to property purchases.

The document called on local governments to inject more investment into these schools, and promote the integration of education with the internet by installing networks and providing them with online teaching resources.