Reform stories from the front line丨The “rural kids” here go to school in the city!
2024-08-06
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On June 21, at the No. 7 Middle School in Haigang Economic Development Zone, students sat in a spacious and bright classroom and listened attentively to the class. Photo by Shi Yuan, a reporter from Hebei Daily
At 6:40 am on June 21, Zhao Yongxin, a villager from Qijia Temple Village, Wangtan Town, Tangshan Haigang Economic Development Zone, sent his son to the school bus.
"Our children can go to school in the city and enjoy high-quality education in the city. We parents can rest assured and be happier!" Zhao Yongxin told reporters that before 2023, his son was still studying in the village primary school. Although it was close to home, the school environment and teaching quality were not as good as those in the city.
A campus tour gave Zhao Yongxin a chance to turn things around. "The district has built a new school and invited parents to visit. The school is in the city, so children from the village can also go to school." Zhao Yongxin said that when he saw the beautiful campus, spacious classrooms, various well-functioning study rooms, computer classrooms, and free school buses to pick up his children, he signed up for the school without hesitation.
At the new school mentioned by Zhao Yongxin, the Seventh Middle School of Haigang Economic Development Zone, the reporter met the principal Liu Jianwei and Bai Deli, deputy director of the Social Affairs Bureau of Haigang Economic Development Zone.
Bai Deli introduced that in order to promote the balanced development of urban and rural education, the Haigang Economic Development Zone implemented an education benefit project, built two new nine-year schools in the urban area, and expanded the supply of education. The Seventh Middle School is one of them.
Why can’t we promote high-quality educational resources to go to the countryside?
"It's mainly because there are fewer and fewer students in the villages." Bai Deli said that there are 14 primary schools, 3 junior high schools and 1 nine-year school in the district's villages, and many primary schools have fewer than 20 students each year, showing the characteristics of many points and few students. It is difficult to promote high-quality educational resources to the countryside and it is easy to cause waste of resources.
On June 21, students were sharing their reading experiences in the library of the Seventh Middle School of Haigang Economic Development Zone. Photo by Shi Yuan, a reporter from Hebei Daily
"Because the school is located at the junction of the town, more than 95% of the students from 18 rural schools choose to study in our school." Liu Jianwei said that the school provides free accommodation for students in grade four and above, and the district has customized 8 school buses and set up meal subsidies to reduce the burden on families in difficulty and effectively solve the problems that parents worry about.
“You have to keep the fan stable while swinging and pay attention to your body’s balance and coordination…” During an after-school dance club activity, eighth-grade student Wang Yubo silently wrote down the key points of the movements taught by the teacher.
Not long after attending No. 7 Middle School, this little girl from Changzhuang Village fell in love with dancing. "The teacher uses multimedia to give lectures, which are vivid and easy to understand. There is also a rich club life after class." Wang Yubo was proud to list the advantages of the school, "A few days ago, I represented the school to participate in the district art festival!"
"We have integrated and optimized the teaching staff of various rural schools. The schools not only have full-time teachers for various subjects, but also have added more than 10 special club activities such as art, calligraphy, musical instruments, and paper cutting to promote the diversified development of students." Liu Jianwei said.
At around 18:00, the reporter walked into a low-rent apartment and saw Liu Jie reading a picture book with his first-grade daughter.
A year ago, Liu Jie was very worried about his daughter's schooling, considering that she was too young to adapt to living in the school dormitory and unable to take the school bus due to severe motion sickness.
"After I reported the situation, the staff of the Education Office of the District Social Affairs Bureau found me the next day and asked me if I was willing to rent a low-rent apartment and move to the city." Liu Jie said that when she saw that the low-rent apartment was fully equipped with furniture and appliances, she happily agreed. "The child can go to school nearby and settle down in the city!" Liu Jie became happier and happier as she spoke.
"Studying in the city should not add burden to rural families, but add 'color'." Bai Deli said that for this reason, the district has learned about the situation of each student and each household, solicited opinions from parents and the public in a timely manner, improved the work plan, and realized that rural students can go to school in the city without any threshold. So far, the rate of rural students going to school in the city has reached 100% in the district.
Source: Hebei Daily
