Parents in Beijing make equality plea
- Source: Global Times
- [00:52 July 29 2010]
- Comments
By Yang Jie
Parents lacking Beijing permanent residency permits, or hukou, have begun campaigning for the chance for their children to continue their education and take the national college examination, or gaokao, in Beijing.
Five parents submitted an appeal containing over 4,400 signatures of parents also lacking local hukou to the Ministry of Education Wednesday, asking them to abolish the existing hukou restrictions on the gaokao, which requires all examinees to take the test at their place of hukou registration.
"I feel so anxious now, as my child has to leave Beijing if the system remains unchanged," said a parent surnamed Li, whose 14-year-old son is a second year junior middle school student. He said his son was refused by a well-known middle school two years ago because he is a non-Beijing hukou holder.
Most non-native children have to return to their hometowns after finishing junior middle school or even primary school, except those whose parents can pay hefty extra fees. Often, children have to separate from their parents.
According to the National Outline for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020), issued by the Ministry of Education in March, how to give the children of migrant workers in the city equal education opportunities has been listed as an issue.
Some parents showed their concerns on the pending abolition of the current system. Dai Hongsheng, a woman holding a Beijing hukou, said if all children can receive an education in Beijing, it would put great pressure on local students.
