Xinjiang plans free senior high school education

BEIJING, Jan. 8 -- Senior high school education might

soon be made free of cost for students in Kashgar, Hotan and Kezilesu Kirgiz

prefectures, the three most underdeveloped regions in southern Xinjiang Uygur

autonomous region, officials said Wednesday.

The new move, which extends free education from the

national standard of nine years to 12 years, aims to improve the overall

education situation in the region, and prevent children from leaving school at a

premature stage to be enticed by the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and

religious extremism, Zhao Dezhong, Party secretary of Xinjiang regional

education bureau, said.

He said the free senior high school education scheme

will follow a "two plus one" mode.

"Students will spend two years learning basic

knowledge, and in the final year, they will receive occupational training, which

will make them more competitive in the job market."

But he said the education plan, which will cost 3.5

billion yuan ($512 million), was still awaiting a final nod from the central

government.

Zhao said the plan came in tandem with a slew of new

measures taken by the government to strengthen the education investment in the

autonomous region, where ethnic minorities account for about 60 percent of its

entire population.

"In terms of maintaining social security and

stability, the move is of strategic significance," he said.

Despite the government's iron-fisted clampdown, the

"three forces" are still a threat to stability and social security, especially

in the three regions, Zhao said.

On Aug 4 last year, two Kashgar natives attacked a

group of border patrol officials and killed 16 of them.

Therefore, adequate school education is vitally

important in the region, Zhao said.

He said due to poverty, underdevelopment and the lack

of senior high school education resources, only about 24 percent students in the

three regions continue with their studies after finishing junior high, less than

half of Xinjiang's average.

However, after five years, the figure is expected to

rise to 50 percent if the measure is implemented, Zhao said.

Cheng Zhenshan, Party secretary of Hotan prefecture,

also sees the scheme as a fundamental cure to the region's underdevelopment.

"Last year, only 15 percent junior high graduates

continued with their studies. We hope the figure could go up to 30 percent this

year," he said.

"I believe with the help of free senior high

education, the situation will be substantially better in the future."

Once the youngsters leave school early, they find

nothing to do and become easy targets of the extremists, who maliciously implant

hatred in their minds by deceiving and distorting reality, Zhao said.

In contrast, the free senior high school education

will keep those youngsters, who are mainly 15 or 16 years old, in school for

another 3 years, shaping their ideology and mentality stronger before they

become adults and leave school.

"The benefits of extended education are life-long",

Zhao said.

(Source: China Daily)