Migrant families in Beijing forced to educate their children at unlicensed schools
Beijing's migrant families must pay for their children to attend unlicensed private schools as they can't get approval to attend free public schools
Wang Hui and his wife have lived in Beijing for more than a decade, but they, like many other migrant parents in the capital, remain dismayed that the local government does not adequately address the educational needs of migrant children such as his son.
His father would like to send the boy to a public school, but his family has been unable to obtain the necessary documents for enrolment.
As a result, Lele is left with little choice but to attend Xiangyang , at a cost of 2,200 yuan (HK$2,700) a year, to receive an education that would otherwise be free if the local government allowed him to attend a public school, or if his parents left him behind to attend school in his hometown in Henan .
"I know this school is by no means desirable, and on top of that we have to pay for it, but at least I have a place for my son to receive schooling here," said Wang Hui, who works as a truck driver; the boy's mother is a housewife.
The couple's inability to enrol their son in a public school is a complaint shared by countless migrant families in Beijing. Adding to their confusion and frustration is that the central government has said local governments are responsible for providing adequate schooling to children from migrant families - meaning the Beijing government is failing to comply.