Although the education authorities have expanded college enrollment in rural areas in recent years, especially to key universities, fewer and fewer rural students are being admitted by the top universities. This unwelcome trend means there's a "downward spiral" in rural areas as the poorer the families are, the more difficult it is for their children to get into a good school or college, and the harder it is for them to get a decent job in the future.

Education is the key to social progress. We should create a social environment that no matter how poor a student's background is, he or she can rise up the social ladder through hard work and excellent academic performance. Such upward mobility not only promotes social adhesion, it is also conducive to the nation's prosperity and development.

The most significant way to enable upward mobility is education. The equality of education that society expects means not only equal access, but also equal opportunity to access quality education resources.

The education authorities should pay more attention to this downward spiral in education, because it has a negative impact on both rural children and the country.

(China Daily 08/26/2015 page8)