Fall Issue, 2014

2013. Many students are forced to start working to ease their families’ financial burden,” said Cathy Chan 陳淑玲 (MBBS Year 2), External Vice-Chairperson of China Education Association (CEA 中國教育小組 ) of Session 2014-2015 at HKU. She told us how CEA has brightened the lives of underprivileged students in China for the past 20 years. Established in 1995 as the first students’ registered charity to support education on the Mainland, CEA started its venture for social good by serving primary school T he economy of Mainland China is booming at an unprecedented pace. This economic development, however, might only be beneficial to cities and coastal regions where favourable policies and foreign capital are introduced. In some remote and rural areas of Mainland China, poverty is yet to be overcome and many children still struggle to receive adequate care and education. “The enrolment ratio for a senior secondary school in Guiding County, Guizhou, was only 65% in pupils in Hunan. “Our work targeted pupils’ educational expenditure and the maintenance costs of dilapidated schools.” In 2007, a policy change in the education system on the Mainland caused CEA to switch its focus from primary school pupils to senior secondary school students 高中生 as its service audience. The law on nine-year compulsory education and the “Two Exemptions and One Subsidy” (TEOS) policy implemented in China provide free education to children, no matter in which city or rural area they reside. But, many do not continue their studies in senior secondary schools because of their families’ financial constraints. “Many have to work to feed family members at home. Since Not One Less - China Education Association, HKUSU The enrolment ratio for a senior secondary school in Guiding County, Guizhou, was only 65% in 2013. Many students are forced to start working to ease their families’ financial burden. 32 SERVICE 100