A project, named "A College Student for Each Village", was
officially initiated on July 12 by the Ministry of Education. It
will be carried out by the Central Radio and Television
College.
The first batch of 8,000 young people is going to begin their
classes in this autumn. Shi Yongsong, a student from Mentougou, a
district in west suburban Beijing, is one of them. He will attend
courses through the Mentougou branch of the Beijing Radio and TV
College. In the coming fall, the program will be carried out in 99
county-level radio and TV colleges which are affiliated to 27 of
the country's provincial colleges of the same kind. Recruitment for
these colleges is under way.
Rural youths have fewer opportunities to go to college as it is
usually hard for them to pass the national college entrance
examinations. Those who enroll into a college are often not willing
to return and work in their hometowns, while technical personnel
are badly needed in the rural areas.
By enrolling students from the rural areas and giving lectures
in their nearby towns, the TV and radio schools will offer courses
relating to farming technologies, such as planting, breeding,
mushroom growing, food processing, gardening, husbandry and
management of rural enterprises. Graduates of high schools,
secondary vocational schools and junior high schools are qualified
for application.
Television stations and websites will give the TV and radio
colleges a helpful hand, though many of the classes will be taught
in classrooms and tutoring will be provided if necessary. The
students will receive diplomas or certificates after they complete
all the required courses and get the needed credit hours. According
to each individual's specific situation, he or she may get a
diploma for normal college graduates; a certificate for a specific
subject; or that for a short-term training.
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(China.org.cn by Wang Ruyue, July 15, 2004)