China's public education system, once hailed by the Beijing regime as among the greatest achievements of the 1949 Revolution, is in chaos and decay due to lack of funding. Not only is the education of millions of children being compromised, their health and even their lives are being placed at risk by crumbling infrastructure, overcrowding and inadequate staffing levels - with little regard for the actual welfare of the students education - more importance is placed on "the number of students" who pass as opposed to actual achievement and merit. Whilst teaching here in Huaihua - I have been acutely aware of the failure of the central governments policy toward education - emphasis is placed on subjects such as Marxist politics and dance and little is spent on the practical subjects such as English and mathematics. These students from the Education Department are "studying" for an Exam which they have been told the answers to in advance, this type situation is not unusual - In a system that is rife with corruption at all levals - it is little wonder that I as a teacher have been approached on more than one occasion by students with to allow them to "pass" the exams that i have set, even the teachers frowned at me when I have accuratly predicted that close to 40% will not pass the year.
photo. mhobbs