Children's education has become a top concern for Chinese
migrant workers who have flocked into cities from rural areas, says
a survey by the National Statistics Bureau.
The survey, covering 6,344 migrant families in ten cities
including Beijing and Shenzhen, shows that education environment is
an influential element for migrant workers to decide where they
will live.
Last year witnessed 113.9 million migrant workers going from
countryside to cities. There are 19.82 million children who have
entered the cities along with their migrant parents. About 90
percent of them aged 7 to 18 are going to schools. Most children
are studying at public schools.
The survey shows that 48.9 percent of parents think tuition in
big cities is too high and 32 percent say that the current
residential registration system will hinder their children from
getting the same education opportunities as those born in
cities.
However, the survey also cites some benefits for migrant
workers' children, including better education facilities provided
by cities.
(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2004)