Your views
Sign up
Back Issues
RSS
Inspiring young minds in China
The popular narrative for China tells of its rapid transformation over the past few decades through relentless economic growth, but with 138 million people still living in poverty, there is also another story to tell.
The Chinese economy, once a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade, is now a vibrant and market-oriented, with a booming private sector.
It’s an evolution that has resulted in China becoming one of the fastest growing economies across the globe. The country is currently the world’s second largest exporter and the third largest importer of goods.
For the significant proportion of the population left behind by the boom there is a different story; a tale of continued poverty, one in which children receive only the most basic education.
Learning is often held back by a combination of large class sizes, outmoded teaching methods, poorly trained teachers and a shortage of text books, ICT equipment and technology.
While enrolment for primary education is high, at around 99.5 per cent, more than three million Chinese primary and junior secondary aged pupils are not enrolled in school. This trend is highest in the poorer, remote rural parts of western and central China.
Beyond the chalk board
UNICEF conducted a survey at 60 rural primary schools in western China. It found that 25 per cent of students had learning difficulties. Only around one in 10 classes had regular in-class discussions or used educational resources and teaching aids in addition to basic chalk board instruction.
There is a need for greater resources and a role for information communication technology, which is where BT and UNICEF's Inspiring Young Minds (IYM) programme can play a role.
Michael Boustridge, president for BT Americas and Asia Pacific region, says: "This is a tremendous opportunity for BT and its people to make an incredible impact on the lives of so many Chinese children."
Continues on page 2
back | more 
CLOSE WINDOW
