Don't disadvantage local students

Zhang Guifeng (China Insurance News): As China is desperate for all kinds of human resources, especially those with high academic or professional achievements, and a large number of Chinese students are working in other countries, it's quite reasonable to call back these people for China's own development.

However, will preferential treatment alone encourage these people of excellence to return and settle down? I'm afraid not. Countless facts show that what really attracts talent are not superficial preferential policies or material rewards, but an excellent social system and environment that respects them, values them and helps them to maximize their capabilities.

China's current environment, however, will by no means satisfy top Chinese students studying abroad. According to an online survey among overseas Chinese students, it is a well-developed education system, as well as relaxed but rule-based cultural and social environment, in the resident countries that they value most. For most who choose to stay abroad, what dissuades them from coming back are the complicated interpersonal relations, underdeveloped legal system, poor municipal facilities and mountain of policy restrictions.

In accordance with the 2006 Blue Paper on Talent issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, compared with developed countries, China did a bad job in effectively making use of its talented people. There is a large waste of human resources here. According to the Blue Paper, in 2005, 25 million well-educated people failed to give full play to their abilities. On the one hand, there is a large shortage of excellent human resources; on the other hand, this labor pool can't make full use of their skills. Obviously, what China is in need of is not high-caliber talent, but fertile soil and favorable environment for talent to grow up and act effectively.

A good environment for research and work is not only the key to attract back excellent overseas Chinese students, but also very helpful to the growth of the country's native talent.

Deng Qingbo (Beijing Youth Daily): First, we must admit that top Chinese students studying abroad are now urgently needed, as their return to China will greatly benefit the country. Therefore, it's all right to offer them some favorable treatment.

In my opinion, the key of the whole issue does not lie in whether the preferential policies are fair to the rest of the society or not, but who are the victims of the "inequality." The preferential treatment to the children of returned professionals in regard to high school and college admissions actually is depriving ordinary children, on par with these returnees mentally, of many opportunities. This is absolutely unfair and unequal to the children from ordinary families. In the long term, it's quite possible that there are potential scientists, writers, artists, etc. among the local children who are squeezed out in this way. However, according to the new policy, these children have to sacrifice their possible brilliant future for children who have talented parents.

Lu Qian'an (www.people.com.cn): Having realized the negative impacts of the brain drain, the government proposes to adopt various measures to call back overseas Chinese students. In this sense, to provide favorable treatment in terms of work and life, so that returned talent can concentrate on their jobs, is quite understandable.

However, it seems unfair to provide similar preferential treatment to the children of these senior intellectuals. According to the new circular, their children will be preferred in high school and college admissions, even if other children have the same intelligence levels. This is absolutely a privilege.

Examinations are supposed to be conducted on an equal footing. The preferential treatment means inequality to other children. The point is, economic and social progress does not depend on a certain group, but on people from all walks of life. It's unwise to sacrifice the overall equality just in order to attract back a small number of so-called high-caliber talent.

Besides, the question remains whether this preferential treatment is able to attract overseas Chinese talent and whether it is attractive enough as a package.

The existence of "privilege" is a reflection of the overall unfair and unequal social environment. Against an unfair background, what type of talented individuals can we expect the seemingly inviting preferential policies to call back? Maybe not high-caliber talent but mediocre human resources, as only those of no real capability are always trying to benefit from an unfair environment. If then we end up with people in this category, just what contribution can we expect them to make to the country's development?