May 24, 2009

Village Schooling

Fu Fuying remembers the day when the peasant farmers of her village came running from the fields, hoisted her onto their shoulders, and carried her from house to house. It was a great celebration, because word had come to Fu’s village that she had been accepted into a teacher training college. She would be the first in her village ever to receive an education beyond high school. Four years later, Fu graduated and returned to her village, proudly taking her position as the first professionally trained teacher in her village.

Each year in China, millions of high school students compete in rigorous entrance examinations for a place in one of China’s colleges and universities. In 2007, 10 million students competed for half that number of possible placements. In the more developed regions of China, professionally trained teachers have modern resources and equipment to prepare their students. In contrast, teachers like Fu, working in remote villages, have no more than a few sticks of chalk and a slate blackboard to prepare their students for the same examinations.

Thanks to Fu Fuying’s dedication, each year the number of college and university entrance students from her village increases. She and they know that education is a key to development. Without professionally trained teachers like Fu, the children of many villages in China have no chance for higher education. The Amity Foundation, a United Church partner, receives M&S funding to provide teachers and money for schools in several Chinese provinces. United Church overseas personnel, Gary MacDonald, works with Amity teaching English to students like Fu. Please give generously to M&S to support education for development.

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