A disturbing story about education in poorer areas of rural China.
nytimes.com
Some quotes from the article by Elizabeth Rosenthal in today's NY Times:
<<LIJIAGOU, China -- At first glance, Hong Mei, a willowy 12-year-old in a long floral skirt and hoop earrings, seems a beacon of color and sophistication in this poor mountain village where the streets, the mud homes, even the crops are the same drab dusty brown.
But her story is depressingly typical of poor Chinese girls: Although nine years of education is compulsory in China, Hong Mei has never been to school. "Of course I'd like to go, but it's too expensive and my mother needs my help at home," she quietly explained. Her three younger brothers are all enrolled.
...
The preponderance of female dropouts reflects centuries-old biases, but also practical considerations: In rural China, married daughters move away to their husband's community, while married sons remain at home to support their parents.
Shan Xinlian, a Hui woman in Nanjiao, Ningxia, has two sons, ages 7 and 12, in elementary school and an 8-year-old daughter in a subsidized second grade class for girls. Ms. Shan never went to school -- and freely admits that her daughter probably would not either, if she had to pay.
"In our village, girls are not as important," she said. "School is so expensive. And what's the point of paying all that money, since she'll belong to another family once she gets married?">>
Larry |
