New policies on poverty relief through education in China

Quality education will make people in impoverished regions more capable of finding jobs, and poverty will thereby be reduced, according to a circular published on Wednesday by the State Council, China's Cabinet. "Education will help residents in the impoverished regions cast off poverty, expand the mid-level income group, promote regional economic and social development and the construction of eco-civilization," said the release. While urging a boost in the coverage and quality of basic education, the document stressed the role of vocational education in helping people increase their income and the value of higher education in acclerating regional development. The circular included detailed policies on funding, employment, support from other regions and the relocation of experts, calling for more money to be poured into areas with severe poverty. More efforts will be made to guide students in social practices, job-hunting and the design of their career path. The circular said that experts, scholars, experienced teachers, retired professionals and volunteers will be sent to temporarily serve in schools in impoverished regions, and more favorable policies will be drafted to attract talent to work there. According to the circular, the country aims to provide basic public education services that are "close to the national average level" for concentrated impoverished regions -- mostly in the underdeveloped west -- by 2020. The document urged provincial-level government to coordinate poverty relief in poor regions and lay down a work evaluation mechanism for inferior governments in accordance with the progress of various educational projects. The document was jointly mapped out by seven government departments including the ministries of education and finance as well as the National Development and Reform Commission.