The “ants” tribe

It is appalling to read about the “ants” tribe in China. They are literally groups of young migrant graduates, working industriously, yet living in over-crowded and modest conditions due to low income in view of high living costs in big cities like Beijing & Shanghai. Government statistics indicate that only 87% of college graduates found work last year. Many graduates doubt this figure as a lot of them are only partly employed or found jobs that could barely support a basic life in a first tier city. A recent survey done to 600 Beijing-area graduates found that their average monthly income is USD300. Apparently, USD300 can now only allow these young people to share a room with several other people in out-skirt areas of the city. Cruel reality is the first encounter that youngsters have to face as they step into society. More significantly, there are millions of disillusioned parents and families who have worked hard to support their children to attain an university education.

The recent National Peoples’ Congress has looked into over-hauling the entire education system in China to better prepare graduates for the job market. The issue of unemployed graduates is also due to the rapid expansion of state controlled universities over the past decade. This over expansion is also the situation in Hong Kong where university graduates are no longer elites in the society as the bar of entrance has been set much lower. Compared to years back when an university education train the cream of the crop in the society to become future leaders, the current system only prepares the average people for a viable livelihood, China & Hong Kong alike.