From: wy@apmaths.uwo.ca (YANAN WU)
Subject: Re: Illiteracy Rate in PRC
Organization: Applied Mathematics, U.W.O
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 04:49:17 GMT

Some more data for your interests, besides Xiaowen's posting:

i) UNESCO (1989) (Untited Nation Education, Science and Culture Organization)

                 229 million illiterates in China
                 891 million illiterates (total) in the world
    i.e: almost every four illiterates in the world, there is one Chinese.
    
    (comment: the ratio may not be that strange considering the ratio of 
              Chinese population in the world. But the ratio is not a good
              sign for a country which is hoped for better economic 
              development, and more human rights awareness.)

ii)  Chinese Gov (mainland) (1988)

          illiterates ratio among the whole national Chinese population:
              1949:  about 80%
              1989:  20.6%

iii) Chinese Gov (mainland) (1989)

          In counties (nong2 cun1) of China:
            the illiterates and half-illiterates is about 1/3 of population
             whose ages are above 12 years-old;
            Among the employed population, the illi. and half-illi. are 35.9%
            Every ten thousand population, there are FOUR university students
 
iv) Li Tieying (Education Commision Chairman, mainland China) (1989, March)

           Among 220 million students in China (mainland):
                about 1/3 of whom only be able to finish elementary schools;
                      1/3 of whom onlu be able to finish junior high;
                      less than 30% of whom be able to finish senior high;
           
           National average years of education level
                 < 5 years

NOTE: All the above data are cited from Chinese official published 
      documents. Only for reference to those who are interested.

If interested, more data are coming. :-)

Folks, as a member of SOS China Education Fund (SOS CEF), I pledge for your 
awareness of the present situation of China's education, esp. elementary 
education and hope to have your support and understanding. If you agree, 
"Let's Do Something Together to Make a Difference" in China's education. As 
assured by SOS CEF's constitution and by-law, it is not and will not 
plan to be affiliated with any organizations inside or outside China.

As some of you may have known, HOPE Project, initiated by basically Chinese 
gov, is carrying similar mission. It is the common understanding and belief 
by current members of SOS CEF that it is necessary and good to have an 
independence source from HOPE Project to raise donations and transfer them 
directly to the hands of supported kids and schools. That's what SOS CEF 
tries to play a role as such a source. It is registered officially in CA, 
US, BTW.

SOS CEF welcomes your input of ideas, comments and of course your generous 
donations. Due to its young age, it also needs badly more volunteers to join 
this group to make efforts together.

Yanan.

>-- 
>The SOS China Education Fund is a non-political, non-profit and independent
>organization to raise money promoting the education in rural China. All donations
>are tax-deductable. Make checks or money orders payable to: "SOS China Education
>Fund"; c/o Jie KANG, 2610 E. 5th Pl, Apt. 1, Tulsa, OK74104, USA. For more 
>information, please e-mail to "sos@thetis.oce.orst.edu".

Sorry to "violate" your copyright, Xiaowen. :-)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china