Social issues in the People's Republic of China in the 21st century are varied. Some include the following: Home to one of the worlds oldest and most complex civilizations, China boasts a history rich in over 5,000 years of artistic, philosophical, and political advancement. ... This article is on the politics of mainland China. ... This article is about Communications in mainland China. ... Since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, the goal of health programs has been to provide care to every member of the population and to make maximum use of limited health-care personnel, equipment, and financial resources. ... The situation of human rights in the Peoples Republic of China has been criticized by various sources, including other nations - particularly Western democracies - as well as international organizations, as being poor in many respects. ... Continuing to occupy more than half of Chinas population, Rural life in the Peoples Republic of China has a varied range in terms of standard of living and living style. ... The 21st century is the century that began on 1 January 2001 and will last to 31 December 2100. ...

• Population (population growth or overpopulation)
• Socio-economic imbalances
  • Rural-urban disparity and the wealth gap
  • Coastal/Hinterland imbalance
• Education
  • Competitiveness in schools
  • Rural-urban inequality

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE year, 37 students are counted in a class. By the second semester a quarter of the children have abandoned their studies in search for a job.

Although it has been made compulsory for children to have at least nine years of education, and enrollment levels have risen to 91 percent and 99 percent in primary schools, many children from rural regions of China still have to leave their education to support the financial needs of their families. Drop out levels have risen from less than half to just over two thirds of a class. These statistics scream out the level of poverty which numerous citizens of rural China experience.

In many areas of rural China, the basic needs such as school chairs and desks, fresh running water and public transport are difficult to find. Often clothes are worn for several months, and showers are not frequent, these are typical examples of the standard of living conditions which many citizens of rural china have to live through. This state of poverty is much more than not possessing enough money, it is the “denial of opportunities and choices most basic to human development- to lead a long, healthy, creative life and to enjoy a decent standard of living, freedom, dignity, self-esteem and respect for others.”(UNDP, 1997)

Schools in rural areas are disadvantaged in many ways. Small furnishings such as desks and chairs are not available to numerous schools and well trained school teachers express no interest in teaching students of the rural regions, because of the remoteness and

poverty of the locations. Another disadvantage to schools in rural areas is the lack of funding which they receive, the government has contributed only 10.8% of the funds of rural schools, compared to a 53.09% funding in urban areas(China Education Expenditure Year Book 1999). To help fund their needs, schools in rural areas because of this, schools have been known to put children to work in mines, on pig farms and into other forms of intensive and dangerous labour. This is a horrible example of how underdeveloped rural China is compared to Urban China.

In addition, nearly all financial burdens for primary schools are put in local towns and villages. This weight is then transferred to parents, not in tuition, which is not allowed, but in the form of various fees. Although the cost of school education seems meagre, it is a burden many families in rural China can not bear. This depicts the low income which the poor grasp hold of.

Poverty is a horrible curse which ruins common values and disrupts families sending millions of people, including children, to move from rural regions to the busier urban cities to search for jobs which provide a small sum of money. Jobs including kitchen hands, construction workers and farming, all of which provide low wages with little benefits. Often workers scarcely receive enough to survive and some result in crime and the black market. This is a treacherous operation as it is criminal activity, which results in the workers being discriminated against and becoming isolated from society.

This is a frequent practice which many children take part in to pay any family debts. This is a huge problem which many children face as they are made to leave their education, making them unable to be eligible for any qualifications for their future. One of the major issues of the practice is that children are left living in a remote area, equipped with very few resources and little education, giving them little choice in their future careers, making it extremely difficult for them to escape from their poverty.

What many do not realize is how much rural China still suffers from underdevelopment and many regions are still developing.