From Chinese Press

From the chinese press

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-02-25 07:55

The poor need separate CPI

The consumer price index (CPI) for low-income people should be calculated separately, because even a slight price rise can wreak havoc in their lives, says an article in Youth Times. Excerpts:

The impact of price rise on high- and low-income groups is different because their consumption level and pattern differ greatly. The main cause of the high inflation today is rise in prices of food, which accounts for the largest part of poor people's consumption. Since CPI influences people of different income levels differently, it cannot reflect the real predicament of the poor.

The National Bureau of Statistics recently released the CPI for January and adjusted it by lowering the statistical weight of food and raising that of overall factors of livelihood, inviting criticism.

The government needs to calculate the CPI for the low-income group separately, which can be done by giving weight to their actual consumption structure. Since the government should know the actual impact of price rise on poor people's lives, it ought not to be confused by the average CPI.

The CPI for the poor should be calculated separately to set the standard for minimum living allowance and subsidies. If the impact of price rise is higher than that of the average CPI on the poor, the government should grant more subsidies and allowances to them. This is important not only to meet their needs, but also for maintaining social stability.

Rural students deserve better

Independent enrollment in universities, which is different from the national college entrance examination, has created a stir among people, for many believe it favors urban students, says an article in Shenyang Evening News. Excerpts:

Independent enrollment in universities seems to be the future trend. But this enrollment system is tailored for urban students, which is evident at every stage of the process such as registration, written test and interview.

Most of the students eligible to take the exam come from city schools. In fact, many universities prefer urban students. Besides, exams are held in big cities, which can be discouraging for rural students, especially the poor ones.

Even the emphasis on knowledge of things beyond the textbooks in the exams and the stress on extra-curricular activities such as playing music and dancing in interviews are favorable to city students, Rural students cannot compare with their urban counterparts in these fields.

The decline in the percentage of rural students in prestigious universities in recent years can be attributed to the independent enrollment system. The condition of middle and primary schools in rural areas is relatively poor, and students there get fewer educational resources because of the government's comparatively low input in education. Since rural students are already prejudiced against, the college entrance exam reform should create more opportunities for them instead of reducing them further.

(China Daily 02/25/2011 page9)