Editor,

China Daily carried the good news that as of March 1 Beijing will provide more athletic and sports facilities for young and old, a necessary and important measure. In the old days kids used to kick a ball around the lanes where they lived. But now the lanes are blocked by parked cars and pedicabs plying the tourist trades.

Youngsters are full of energy. When bored and having nowhere to blow off steam, they hang out in unhealthy places like Internet cafes, instead of growing stronger through sports.

I have two bones to pick with the news item. One, it complains that the kids play "even" at their schools. In most countries children always play in their schoolyards. Schools ordinarily have lots of space, and the advantage of teachers who can look after the children's' safety, and perhaps provide a little coaching as well. Of course the games should be only after all classes are over, and the kids can make as much noise as they like.

Two, the news item says the children will have to pay "small fees" for use of the sports fields. Whatever for? This too is very different from the practice in other lands. A small fee to a child is not small. They, and their parents, are already overburdened with innumerable, unreasonable fees. Surely Beijing can afford to pick up the bill for these very welcome improvements?

Sha Boli, Beijing

Reform drive should go on

Editor,

I enjoyed reading your article "Coupons a reminder of hungry days" dated March 1.

I am a French, 63 years old, and teaching international marketing to MBA students at Ocean University in Qindgao for a few months.

My generation remembers very well these "old days of the planned economy" when no one would have thought in the Western world that China would have become what it is today less than 30 years after Deng Xiaoping showed the new direction of the market economy.

I am impressed by what your country has achieved to move out of these coupon days even if, as you say very clearly, "the present time has its own problems with wealth-poverty disparity, corrupt officials, etc." No one should negate the reform drive.

The fact that you are able to talk about what has still to be done is an answer to the ones who think that freedom of speech is not allowed in your beautiful country.

Francis R. ILLE, Qingdao

Editor,

The coupon system was born out of necessity. There was a shortage and everyone in the nation had to be fed and clothed, and hence the coupon system.

The coupon system worked and did succeed in accumulating the meagre funds needed to launch the initial industrialization of China. I have nothing but admiration for the earlier generation of Chinese who joined in the process of building up this nation, and in casting off the mantle of shame that had been with us for the past 150 years since the opium war.

Born Of Necessity, via e-mail

Equal education opportunities

Editor,

The Chinese Government has attached great importance to economic growth since it adopted the policy of opening-up and reform. Thus, we have witnessed the economy develop by leaps and bounds during the past few decades. In the wake of this, the Chinese education cause has undertaken unprecedented progress and scored remarkable achievements.

On the other hand, many problems have emerged, in particular, the imbalanced educational structure. Higher education has eaten off too much capital investment in education. The current situation is not that optimistic for basic education. Immediate measures should be taken to reverse the unfair distribution system.

In China's vast rural areas, students from poor families do not have access to basic education. The facilities in rural schools are usually poor, classrooms shoddy and dim. Worse still, the lack of qualified teachers remains a hard nut to crack. It is not that local authorities do not put much emphasis on the quality of the teachers, but that bad conditions remain.

Now the majority of the expenditure for rural compulsory education is financed by local governments. The central coffers only provide a small portion. Putting enough money into rural education is a way to improve its condition and upgrade its level.

On many occasions, Premier Wen Jiabao has stated that students from poor areas will enjoy free education. In the year 2007, all rural students will enjoy such a boon that all are able to complete their compulsory education. It will do great benefit to building up a well-off society in an all-round way.

Wu Yifei, Xi'an

(China Daily 03/07/2006 page4)