In Changsha Global Vocational Education Group, two-to-three years of training would guarantee a job in cities, as the school provided training to the orders of textile, architecture and machinery factories.

Students at the vocational school enjoyed tax exemptions and a government subsidy of about 1,500 yuan per person.

By contrast, the expenditure for college study would cost at least 10,000 yuan a year per person, with tuition, boarding and lodging included. The country's per capita net income for rural families, however, was only roughly 4,000 yuan a year.

"Farmers are very down-to-earth people. When college education fails to be well integrated with the market demand and costs more, vocational schools become a pretty good choice," said He Guangwen, chairman of the Global Vocational Education Group.

Official figures projecting the changing trend in college enrollment are not available. Guangzhou Daily cited expert estimates last week, saying that the proportion of rural students to undergraduates has declined from 30 percent in 1980s to 17.7 percent these years.

The government has responded to the unemployment issue by raising vocational training subsidies to rural migrant workers and offering internships college graduates.

Lu Yongmin, who teaches English and journalism in the Beijing-based Communications University of China, shared her thoughts on the college versus vocational school issue.

"Short-term vocational trainings are helpful in facilitating employment. But having more rural children get access to college education could elevate the country's overall competence, which is good to the nation's future," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2009)