In 1997, the Chinese Government privatized universities. Higher Education became a commodity. According to WhyPoverty.net, the University Entrance Exams will determine the future of one’s life in China. The top students go to state subsidized universities, the rest pay higher fees at private colleges.

Wang Zhenxiang, a tutor who is a qualified graphic designer that goes around selling a scam said 90 percent of the teachers at private universities like his have no teaching qualifications. Rural Villages cannot afford good teachers so their only option is to hire out profit driven colleges where requirements are low and u can still get a certificate. In reality, the College does not care about the students.

Wang Pan, a village student wants to enter the private university to bring her parents out of poverty. Her mother said, “if u want a job that is not manual labor then you need a skill or a certificate to find a good job”.

Wan Chao, the graduate student who did well on the entrance examination has a tough time finding a job. He got a week trial for a job, but the manager let him go. The lay off happened after he unwisely borrowed money from family and friends to pay rent and eat.

One thing that stood out to me was when Zhenxiang-the tutor- said The city kids do not fall for the private college degree program scams. “They are too informed,” he said.

To make out of poverty in China, you need skills, and if you believe in education then you will either enter into a scam if you do not do well on the entrance exams.