Partnership Launched with New World China Land, Towards Child Friendly Schools in the Western Region of China
Beijing, 10 August 2007. Today New World China Land launched partnership with UNICEF for promoting Child Friendly Schools in the backward and remote areas of the western China. Mr. Zheng Zhigang, Executive Director of New World China Land, David McLoughlin, Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Ms. Wang Zhuzhu, Deputy Director of China National Center for Educational Technology (NCET), Mr. Wang Yi, Project Officer of Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of MOE and other guests attended the launch. Partnership with New World China Land will support the MOE's and UNICEF's efforts to enrich children's learning environment with better trained teachers, in the treatment of all children with equal respect and dignity, in promoting collaborative learning between children in rural and urban schools to bridge the learning divide, and in ensuring that children are actively participating in activities that will help them discover and develop their potentials. UNICEF is currently supporting the Ministry of Education in developing national standards on Child Friendly Schools to contribute to China's goal of essential-quality-oriented-education. "It is a great honor to promote UNICEF among our clients and to inspire their affection on the needy children in western China." Mr. Zheng Zhigang expressed, and he believed that only through benefiting the disadvantaged people especially the women and children, can we make a harmonious new world. Speaking on behalf of UNICEF China, Mr. David McLoughlin stressed the situation of disparity amongst primary schools particularly those in rural areas of China. Less than 60% of children complete primary school within five years in backward and remote ethnic minority counties of western China. Out of the total number of 394,200 primary schools in 2005, only about 51% primary schools had minimum standard provision of learning facilities. Inadequately trained teachers, poor learning environments and gender or culture barriers have increasingly exacerbated disparities in education in China. Mr. David McLoughlin made a speech
Support from New World China Land will benefit many children in rural areas. A "New Living Painting Competition" was initiated nationwide by New World China Land, with all funds raised being donated to UNICEF assisted "Child Friendly Schools" project.
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