White paper highlights issues facing teachers

A Chinese property solutions provider, government bodies and research institutions released the country’s first white paper addressing teachers’ working and living conditions on Sept 13.

The White Paper for the Living and Working Conditions of the Education Industry aims to set standards on the care of education workers, safeguard their rights and raise awareness of the community.

Jiang Chao, general manager of Shouye Data, one of the research institutions behind the white paper, said the research can provide guidelines for policy-making and commercial innovation in order to improve teachers’ quality of life.

“To improve teachers’ working and living conditions, all parties need to get involved,” said Liu Fushan, vice-president of MXIS Group, a customized life service provider and a contributor to the paper. “Apart from service providers, government bodies and social welfare organizations also need to step up.”

Apart from price, what concerns the teaching community in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei regarding living conditions is the design of balconies and studies, while 35.3 percent of education workers are also concerned about lighting, according to the white paper.

In terms of working environment, functional aspects such as teaching facilities, libraries and canteens are the top concerns.

“I would like a big study to prepare for classes,” said Liu Junhong, from the faculty of the Capital University of Economics and Business.

Xu Yingke, chairman of the Beijing Alliance of Universities, said the most important thing is to solve the housing problem for young teachers. “I hope there will be a gym and a healthy and clean food supply,” Xu said.

Miao Leru, vice-president of the China Real Estate Association, said the white paper advocates provision of dignified lives for teachers and calls on society to show teachers more respect.

“We hope the idea MXIS is promoting, a green and intelligent living environment for teachers, will become an industry standard. We also hope government authorities can pay more attention to the community,” he said.