Decision to promote education of county-level senior high schools timely

In an executive meeting in late August, the State Council, China's Cabinet, decided to further promote education of county-level senior high schools. The news briefing on the issue, however, was largely neglected by the media which were then busy covering the preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and the Sept 3 military parade in Beijing.

Media outlets failed to realize not only the significance of the news for millions of rural youngsters but also the strategic importance of the decision in furthering education reform.

According to data, by the end of 2020, there were over 7,200 county-level senior high schools that have recruited many students from rural areas, making up about 51 percent of the national total.