80 4 Nine Year Compulsory Education ...
work pupil teacher ratios in the junior secondary schools fell to only 6:1. In con-
trast to this very low ratio the pupil teacher ratio in Sikai Central Primary School
approached 40:1 for much of the last five years.
Teachers were recruited in Zhaojue in advance of the initiatives in 2007/8 to
popularise compulsory education, were accompanied by an inspection. In the last
two years the number of teachers has been falling. The county government deter-
mines the number of teachers employed and controls transfers. It appears that
about 10 % of teachers are transferred in and out of schools each year. There is a
competition each year to select the best teachers who qualify for transfers to bet-
ter schools. Though this may motivate some teachers, it may reduce the quality in
the schools they leave. Zhaojue remains an unpopular posting for those teachers
who do not come from the area. Many rural teachers also indicated a preference to
work closer to Zhaojue Town.
Teachers’ salaries in Zhaojue have been increasing with monthly average of 2300
yuan, and a highest salary is 3200 yuan per month in 2010. This is above the aver-
age agricultural income in the area. Substitute teachers only receive 600 yuan each
month without any other benefit. However, living expenses are high and a lot of
money is spent on transport and commuting, and there are not enough houses for all
so some pay rent. In 1990 salaries for teachers were between 180 yuan per month
and 200 yuan per month and have therefore increased ten times. Though the increase
in salary has been more than in other places it is still a subject of dissatisfaction.
4.5 Educational Funding and Infrastructure
The management of the primary school system in Zhaojue is undertaken by prin-
cipals of central primary schools, though formally the responsibility is with the
district office of Culture and Education. School principals are responsible for
instruction in the central school and for instruction and administrative work in
other schools in this district. Thus Bier district has eight administrative Xiangs
each of which has a central primary school linked to the Bier Office of Culture
and Education. This managerial system is able to integrate resources and oversee
widely dispersed village primary schools and teaching points.
The implementation of the new financial allocation system has guaranteed
overall funding, and local fund raising at Xiang level has largely ceased. However,
it appears that there are issues about funding affecting the large numbers of vil-
lage schools in Zhaojue. Cash transfers related to numbers of children and teach-
ers do not appear to reach these schools and are captured at central primary school
level. Though centrally purchased teaching materials are distributed, these schools
receive no money to meet local needs. For example, in Xinbang Incomplete
Primary School in Bier District, the recurrent fund does not reach them. In 2009
the school requested each parent to pay 50 yuan for school maintenance and
repairs. In Aboluo Incomplete School the condition of the school building has
remained unchanged since 1990.