Rural Education In China

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Rural Education In China
Challenges AND Opportunities
Rural China Education Foundation
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Do You Know the Numbers?

• Literacy in China has grown to near 99 (16-24
  years old). (UNESCO, 2003)
• 96 primary-to-secondary transition rate (China
  Statistics Yearbook, 2004)
• 70 of urban children enter high school, but
  less than 10 of rural children
• Among high school graduates, rural students have
  3-4 times less chance to enter college than urban
  students (quota system, worse preparation, more
  pressure).

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Calculated based on data from China Statistics
Yearbook, 2004
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The ContextRural Development

• Urban population 492 million (38)Rural
  population 800 million (62) (UNESCO, 2002/2003)
• Income is gt3 times less than urban area (2003)
• Income of Urban Households 8,472
• Income of Rural Households 2,622 (China
  Statistics Yearbook, 2004)
• Top two v.s. bottom two provinces (2002)
• Shanghai 33,285, Beijing 22,577
• Guizhou 3,088, Guangxi 5,092
• Large inequalities a) between provinces b)
  within provinces c) within communities

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Why Rural Development Is So Important

• China requires nine years of compulsory
  education. Its funding comes from the local
  government, thus depends on the economic
  situation
• Locales with a firmer socio-economic structure
  are able to offer a better general learning
  environment to the children
• Inequalities in economic development directly
  affect other education conditions of rural China

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Rural Education Conditions

• Significant tuition and book fees relative to
  rural income
• Decentralization many must live at school, pay
  transport, rent and food
• Economic incentive to find a job early
• Poorly trained teachers (often only high school
  graduates themselves)
• Large classes, poor facilities
• No larger learning environment, fewer
  opportunities to learn outside of classroom
• Strongly exam-centered, does not develop
  students talents. More so in rural areas than in
  cities
• Competing with city students under same exam
  system but with a different starting point

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Reform Efforts

• Government eliminate tuition book fees for
  poorest students by 2007 and all students by
  2010, give subsidies for living fees, offer
  scholarships, build schools, ban unlicensed
  teachers
• Non-governmental organizations scholarships,
  building schools, donate libraries and equipment
• Overseas China Education Foundation, Zigen Fund,
  Education and Science Society, Evergreen
  Education Foundation, etc.
• But also needed improving the quality of
  education what to teach, why this, and how.
  Supported by government (2001), but implemented
  only at small scale.

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Whats Missing?
Severe lack of resources in rural education

• Hardware school buildings, facilities,
  libraries, tuition fees

Government reforms, scholarships from
foundations, etc.
Economic support

• Software good teachers, effective teaching
  methods, curriculum that is relevant to preparing
  rural children for society

Human resources
RCEF?
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Rural China Education Foundation (RCEF)

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, registered in
  the U.S.
• Founded in 2004 by international Chinese students
  and young professionals
• Mission To improve the quality of education in
  rural China in a way which benefits the
  well-rounded development of students as well as
  the development of their communities.

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RCEF Philosophy
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Teaching Methodology

• We used well-known teaching methods designed to
  motivate students and help in effective learning
• Encourage students to ask questions and to give
  their own opinions.
• Relate the topics of our classes to real-life
  examples.
• Emphasize understanding instead of
  memorization.
• Foster students creativity.
• Motivate students by making their learning
  experiences enjoyable and memorable.
• Let students work in groups when appropriate.

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What RCEF Brings to Rural China

• Student-centered teaching methods
• Curriculum created by RCEF with expert support
• Collaborations with mainland organizations

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RCEF Volunteer Teaching Program 2005
August 3
Evaluating
Feedback evaluations Publishing teaching
guidebook Future plans
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Left A typical rural classroom with desks in
rows where teaching is teacher-centered and
students have limited cooperation or participation
Right Ninth graders pass around a balloon in an
icebreaker game that encourages them to share
stories, dreams and concerns about school.
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BELOW A students poster about stories he
collected from interviewing adults in his village
as part of the Community Research class.
ABOVE Drawing maps and pictures of what students
observe on their way to school
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LEFT Art Projects-- Folding Paper
RIGHT Hands-on Science Experiments
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Middle school student comment I may not have
learned much knowledge but I gained a lot of
study strategies and principles I can use for a
lifetime. I was very happy and enjoyed these
eight days. I really wish time could stay still.
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How Is RCEF Unique?

• Focus on human resources, not on money
• Recruit expert knowledge in volunteers to
  maximize effectiveness
• Emphasize community concept of education
• Work closely with Chinese volunteers and
  grassroots organizations
• Focus on teaching content and methods, raise
  social concern for the problems of quality
  content and teaching methods
• Introduce new subjects, such as drama, public
  speaking, art
• Promote overall development critical thinking,
  creativity, team work, ..
• Develop a Guidebook for Extracurricular Teaching

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Future plans

• Develop the volunteer teaching curriculum and
  cultivate basis sites for community-centered
  volunteering
• Sponsor innovative rural education projects of
  Chinese NGOs
• Training rural teachers in student-centered
  teaching methods and community-relevant
  curriculum design
• Locally-based quality curriculum development
  projects.
• 2005-7 Native Soil Education Program, with
  Brooks Education Centre and Green Watershed in
  Lashi County, Yunnan Province.
• Newsletter for and by rural teachers
• Serve as an international platform to rural China
  education organizations

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Where We Stand Now
Funds needed for

• Rural Teacher Training program
• Printing and distributing RCEFs Guidebook for
  Extracurricular Teaching in Rural China
• Local quality curriculum development programs
• Sponsoring innovative rural education projects
  by Chinese volunteer organizations
• RCEF Summer Volunteers are required to pay
  for all their own expenses

2005 income came from our 3 Silver Sponsors
(1000 to 4999) and 13 Bronze Sponsors (100 to
999) in 2005
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What You Can Do for RCEF and Rural China Education

• Donations (www.ruralchina.org)
• Professional expertise in education, rural
  development, sociology, China studies
• Raising awareness join the RCEF Friends list
  (send email to info_at_ruralchina.org)
• Volunteering (Mandarin speaking required)

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Join us in developing quality education for rural
children!
WWW.RURALCHINA.ORG Contact INFO_at_RURALCHINA.ORG