People with disabilities receive public education in China: official
8/9/2008 17:47
People with disabilities have been receiving public education for decades
in China, an official said in Beijing today.
"Since the launching of reform
and opening-up 30 years ago, China has gradually built a special education
system for its people with disabilities, which includes fundamental education,
vocational training, higher education and adult education," said Sun Xiande,
deputy director-general of the China Disabled Persons' Federation at a press
conference during the ongoing Paralympic Games.
"It has always been an
important part of China's education cause," he added.
According to statistics
provided by the government, by 2007, there were 1,667 special schools, nearly
four-fold from the number in 1986, and 2,803 special classes affiliated with
ordinary schools in China for vision and hearing impaired and intellectually
disabled children, enrolling a total of 580,000 students compared to 47,200 in
1986.
In addition, nearly 20 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities
have established subsidy schemes for disabled college students.
Sun, however,
admitted that there remains much to be done as there are only 20,000 disabled
students studying in higher education institutions, accounting for less than one
percent of the country's 82.9 million people with a disability.
"The
government will continue to inject more fund and resources in education for the
disabled people," said Sun.
"In near future, more disabled people will be
able to receive higher education.
"Our top priority is to ensure people with
a disability to sufficiently participate in social activities with equal
opportunities," he added.
Xinhua
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