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3,000 pupils carry desks as officials squander funds
By Beijing News |
September 5, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
NEARLY 3,000 students in a poverty-stricken area in Hubei Province had no choice but to find and take their own desks to school as the new semester began this month, while many other poor schools lack any desks at all, the Changjiang Times reported.
However, Internet users point out that Macheng City (county-level), where students had to obtain their own desks, ranked first in Huanggang City in terms of economic development during the first half of the year.
The county-level city had squandered a vast sum on a well-decorated government building, which was called "Macheng's White House."
The local government spends lavishly to build a luxurious official building but claims to be too poor to buy 3,000 desks which are estimated to cost only 150,000 yuan (US$23,655).
Why doesn't local government spend less on itself and spend money on schools? Apparently it isn't destitute, but doesn't spend wisely on what is vital. No wonder Macheng finds it hard to eliminate poverty.
But have higher authorities in Huanggang City and Hubei Province ever stepped into local schools and supervised educators who turn a blind eye to education?
The news about children bringing desks to school has created an uproar online where people say it's outrageous that children have to move their parents' old desks to their schools in an age of material richness.
Across the nation, we see similar cases of children plagued by shoddy school facilities, but hardly do we see reports showing officials punished for misusing education funds.
Authorities are expected to place more emphasis on education quality, rather than officials' performance in boosting GDP.
On the other hand, officials linked to education scandals should be thoroughly investigated and punished. Hubei education authorities need to respond to the desk crisis.
However, Internet users point out that Macheng City (county-level), where students had to obtain their own desks, ranked first in Huanggang City in terms of economic development during the first half of the year.
The county-level city had squandered a vast sum on a well-decorated government building, which was called "Macheng's White House."
The local government spends lavishly to build a luxurious official building but claims to be too poor to buy 3,000 desks which are estimated to cost only 150,000 yuan (US$23,655).
Why doesn't local government spend less on itself and spend money on schools? Apparently it isn't destitute, but doesn't spend wisely on what is vital. No wonder Macheng finds it hard to eliminate poverty.
But have higher authorities in Huanggang City and Hubei Province ever stepped into local schools and supervised educators who turn a blind eye to education?
The news about children bringing desks to school has created an uproar online where people say it's outrageous that children have to move their parents' old desks to their schools in an age of material richness.
Across the nation, we see similar cases of children plagued by shoddy school facilities, but hardly do we see reports showing officials punished for misusing education funds.
Authorities are expected to place more emphasis on education quality, rather than officials' performance in boosting GDP.
On the other hand, officials linked to education scandals should be thoroughly investigated and punished. Hubei education authorities need to respond to the desk crisis.
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