There should be less obstacles for migrant children to go to
school in cities, says a commentary in Xinhua Daily
Telegraph. An excerpt follows:
In 2004, the government of Lanzhou, Gansu Province, worked out the policy that migrant
children can attend assigned schools without paying extra fees. It
sounds like a good thing for the migrant children. But today about
70 percent of migrant families in the city have not been able to
enjoy this benefit as they cannot provide the needed documents.
The four documents required, namely the original household
registration paper, the temporary residence registration paper, the
family planning certificate and housing rental or purchase
document, are blocking the way for migrant children's
education.
It really is difficult to get all the papers ready. Even city
dwellers who do not have their own housing can hardly figure out
how to get a rental certificate. And the requirement is ridiculous.
A child of school age is waiting for education and no unnecessary
papers should be required.
According to the Compulsory Education Law, it is illegal for
parents not to send their children to school. Then what about
schools that reject the children?
The local government of Lanzhou may have its own difficulties.
It asks for the certificates in an effort to prevent fake migrant
children from enjoying the benefit. However this policy only
affects migrants since the locals have no reason to fake migrant
status.
It may not be a big deal for the local government to waive the
extra fees for transient students, and it means a lot for migrant
children. And why should people pay extra fees when they live in
this city and contribute to the economy of the place?
For many migrant children in Lanzhou, the "good" policy is only
a beautiful cake drawn on paper. The local government should take
prompt actions to clear the barriers.
(China Daily January 12, 2007)