Officials urge migrant school preservation

BEIJING - Government officials and university professors on Thursday issued a written statement calling for the preservation of a primary school for migrant children in Beijing.

The Tongxin Experimental Primary School, established in northeast Beijing's Chaoyang district in 2005, is facing the prospect of being shut down by township-level education authorities.

Wen Tiejun, one of the authors of the statement, said China should try its best to preserve schools for migrant children, as the culture created by migrant workers has significant historical meaning.

"Schools for migrant children represent a cultural connection between urban and rural life," Wen added.

According to Wang Dezhi, manager of the school, said that many schools for migrant children have been shut down or merged over the last two years.

Wang said the school has paid great attention to the safety of its facilities and is prepared to invite local officials to evaluate the school according to national standards.

The children of migrant workers who have recently arrived in Beijing have little access to education and many parents have been forced to send their children back to their hometowns, Wang said.