The latest campaign for much-needed reforms to the rural education system, which has fallen massively into debt after years of corruption and poor management, has failed to address the root of the problem.
A circular issued by the State Council on Thursday said county governments would take over the responsibility of providing nine years of compulsory education in the countryside from township and village governments.
Administrative education positions at township and village level will be scrapped, while county governments will now oversee funding and supervision, and determine the number of school teachers. They will also pay rural teachers directly to curb abuse of funds.
The circular said the state would subsidise poor counties, while special funds would be delegated to rebuild dilapidated buildings and help cash-strapped schools buy textbooks.
The circular, entitled Perfecting the Management of Rural Compulsory Education, is the latest attempt to revive the rural education system.
After the 1994 tax reform, rural education was made the responsibility of township and village governments, which mostly used taxes and fees from farmers to fund the schools.
