Decrepit school in island tourism hotspot
Source: Xinhua |
April 23, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SHATTERED windows, broken desks and dirty walls are a sad but common sight in rural schools in China's underdeveloped west.
But the same sight can be seen in a classroom in Sanya, a bustling tourist city in south China's tropical island province of Hainan.
A shabby two-story building belonging to the Haipo Primary School contrasts sharply with the city's high-end hotels and villas, some just a stone's throw from the school.
Photographs of the school were posted on Tianya.cn, a popular Chinese message board, by a netizen using the screenname "King of Iron Fist."
These caught the eye of many users, who expressed their concerns regarding the state of public education.
One netizen with the screenname "yishenghaose" said educational authorities had failed to fulfil their obligation to improve the condition of the school, causing the students to suffer hardship.
Built in the 1960s, the school is attended by 140 students, who are taught by 13 teachers, according to Feng Chanjuan, the school's principal.
Sanya, a popular destination for Chinese tourists attracted by its beautiful beaches and sunshine, is striving to become a world-class tourism destination. The village of Haipo, where the school is located, has witnessed explosive growth, with numerous shiny skyscrapers springing up.
However, the school is just as shabby as it was before the construction spree began.
Gong Weidan, deputy chief of Sanya's education bureau, said the bureau earmarks money every year for renovating school buildings.
However, the Haipo school has been unable to benefit from this fund because the land it sits on has been rezoned for commercial use, deterring educational authorities from spending more money on the school, Gong said.
Feng said education is sometimes overlooked by local governments in their pursuit of fast economic development.
China's total expenditure on education represents no more than 4 percent of the gross domestic product, lower than the global average of 4.9 percent.
Feng said while many students have moved to other schools due to the poor conditions, there is still a large number who come from families of migrant workers, whose meager incomes are not enough to allow them to send their children to other schools.
"I hope we can get a new building so that students can study in comfort," Feng said.
But the same sight can be seen in a classroom in Sanya, a bustling tourist city in south China's tropical island province of Hainan.
A shabby two-story building belonging to the Haipo Primary School contrasts sharply with the city's high-end hotels and villas, some just a stone's throw from the school.
Photographs of the school were posted on Tianya.cn, a popular Chinese message board, by a netizen using the screenname "King of Iron Fist."
These caught the eye of many users, who expressed their concerns regarding the state of public education.
One netizen with the screenname "yishenghaose" said educational authorities had failed to fulfil their obligation to improve the condition of the school, causing the students to suffer hardship.
Built in the 1960s, the school is attended by 140 students, who are taught by 13 teachers, according to Feng Chanjuan, the school's principal.
Sanya, a popular destination for Chinese tourists attracted by its beautiful beaches and sunshine, is striving to become a world-class tourism destination. The village of Haipo, where the school is located, has witnessed explosive growth, with numerous shiny skyscrapers springing up.
However, the school is just as shabby as it was before the construction spree began.
Gong Weidan, deputy chief of Sanya's education bureau, said the bureau earmarks money every year for renovating school buildings.
However, the Haipo school has been unable to benefit from this fund because the land it sits on has been rezoned for commercial use, deterring educational authorities from spending more money on the school, Gong said.
Feng said education is sometimes overlooked by local governments in their pursuit of fast economic development.
China's total expenditure on education represents no more than 4 percent of the gross domestic product, lower than the global average of 4.9 percent.
Feng said while many students have moved to other schools due to the poor conditions, there is still a large number who come from families of migrant workers, whose meager incomes are not enough to allow them to send their children to other schools.
"I hope we can get a new building so that students can study in comfort," Feng said.
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