Parents, professors doubt party's renewed pledge to end elite schools
Institutions that cater to the rich and powerful thrive despite a legal ban. But parents wonder if leaders can finally bring equity to the system
Tang Wanyuan, the father of a sixth grader in Beijing, is sceptical of the Communist Party's pledge to stamp out privilege in the public education system and stop the spread of elite schools that cater to the rich and powerful.
The schools would continue to exist, Tang predicted, and parents would continue to resent them while coveting a spot for their own children. What the government should have done, Tang said, was to push for the enrolment process to be made more transparent, so average parents had a chance for their children to attend, he said.
The party has put a renewed focus on equitable education. In a document issued after its recent third plenum, the party's Central Committee said education authorities could not designate schools or classes as elite. Such a ban already exists - it was added to the Education Law in 2006 - but it has been poorly enforced.
The plenum document seems to recognise the growing public dissatisfaction with the current system.
"These schools are almost certain to continue operating the way they have, only under a different name such as 'model schools' or 'schools with special characteristics'," Tang said.
