'Dissatisfied Youth Problem In China’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 11

'Dissatisfied Youth Problem In China’

(N.Z.P Ji.-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, Feb. 24. China is faced with a severe crisis in education and other areas affecting the political thinking of China’s youth, according to a “New York Times’’ correspondent. Reforms in the educational system had backfired on the Peking Administration, leav-

ing millions of students unable to continue studies through lack of classrooms and qualified teachers. Many of these displaced youngsters were idle and dissatisfied the correspondent reported from Hong Kong. Widespread underemployment had created scarcity of suitable works for youths fortunate to obtain higher diplomas. Left either unemployed or in jobs they considered unworthy of their training, these educated young people also were embittered.

The result was that among youth there had been growing criticism of the Government, scepticism of highflown ideological appeals and increasing concern with personal well-being as opposed to the selfless idealism constantly being urged by Peking's rulers.

The consequence now disturbing the Government had been a tendency among youth to turn away from communism. This was an unexpected reversal of toe proCommunist trend among youngsters who suffer similar disabilities of education and employment in other overpopulated Asian countries, such as India and Japan. The concern with youth in Peking had been reflected recently in almost daily exhortations published in all widely-circulated Chinese Commas tet organs. The Chinese press had called urgent attention to the need for greater political indoctrination down to kindergarten age, the report said.