CPPCC member proposes universities aid basic education in poor areas

Zhao Yueyu, a CPPCC National Committee member and president of Guangxi University, takes part in an interview. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Zhao Yueyu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and president of Guangxi University, suggested that all universities should play a role in helping bolster basic education in impoverished rural areas.

"After eliminating poverty, education development and precise assistance in impoverished areas are closely related to the sustainable development of the local society and economy," said Zhao.

After years of investigating impoverished counties of Guangxi, Zhao found that the current level of basic education in impoverished counties in border areas was still low. He noted that education will be a very important aspect of the future poverty alleviation and rural revitalization strategy.

In order to help improve the education of impoverished counties in the border areas, Guangxi University has selected 25 outstanding prospective graduate students to teach as middle school teachers in Napo county, a poor area in the border city of Baise, for one to two years.

We hope that through the implementation of this model of selection, more children in border areas can enjoy good basic education resources, added Zhao.

Zhao suggested that all universities in China, especially those who under the "double first-class" project, referring to "world-class university" and "world-class disciplines," take part in similar efforts. Through the one-on-one assistance from universities to extremely impoverished areas, the overall condition and basic education level in impoverished areas will be improved, while the quality of schools and the education level of local people will be bolstered.