The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 377 Normal School, Nursing School or Military School?

With three crops a year and the use of better grain varieties, the Anmin Army has had bumper harvests in its territory in recent years.

In addition, Zhang Chi set the tariffs on grain products very cheaply, and ship after ship of high-quality White Eagle refined flour was unloaded at the Port of Yangon, which led to very cheap grain prices in Southeast Asia.

Jin Sanchen's family has 21 acres of land, so they definitely don't have to worry about having enough food, but it's difficult for them to make a lot of money by selling grain.

Now that the country is beginning to settle down, publicly funded compulsory education only applies to primary school. Students have to pay their own tuition for junior high and high school. Public schools are not so bad, with tuition ranging from 40 to 60 dollars per semester, but private schools are very expensive, at least hundreds of dollars.

Jin Sanchen is not married yet, but he has to take care of his deceased eldest brother's three children. If they all go to middle school, it will cost a lot of money. How can he not worry?

Administrator Zheng laughed when he heard this: "What's your nephew's name? Jin Haiquan? He's only in first grade. Why are you so anxious?"

Since the children brought by immigrants are of different ages, Zhang Chi simply made a one-size-fits-all rule that as long as they did not have an equivalent primary school education before arriving, they would all be sent to primary school if they were under 16 years old. Therefore, the ages of students in the first grade of primary school now range from 6 to 16 years old, which is a headache for the principals and teachers.

"Yes, that little monkey who climbed up the roof and ripped off the tiles one day."

Administrator Zheng pressed the stamp and clapped his hands. "You've arrived just in time. Right now, we have three schools that offer no tuition and even pay for admission. The prerequisite is that the child must work hard and pass the exam."

"Three kinds?" Jin Sanchen's eyes lit up. "Brother Zheng, tell me!"

"The first type is a normal school. They focus on training rural teachers. It's a three-year program. After completing the program, students are directly assigned to teach in rural primary schools. After five years, they can take exams for promotion and transfer to urban areas. We're short of teachers right now. For these normal school students, the school provides food and accommodation, and they are provided with shoes and uniforms every year. They also receive a six-dollar monthly stipend while they're in school."

"Is it true that not only is this school free, but they even give you change?"

Even in the Republic of China, which had undergone multiple rounds of education reforms, going to school after compulsory education (called forced education in the Republic of China) was still a very expensive activity.

Otherwise, where do the masters get such high salaries at the school? Do you expect Commissioner Geng of the White Party to pay them out of his own pocket?

Generally, the registration fee for public universities like Shuimu is several dollars, and the tuition for one semester is dozens or even hundreds of dollars.

As for private universities such as Nankai, Fudan, and Tongji, the tuition fees range from over one hundred to several hundred dollars.

Of course, when it comes to local middle schools, warlords will generally allocate funds for subsidies every year. Warlords like the Jin and Feng factions, who care more about their own industrial construction, will take the initiative to allocate funds to middle schools to train industrial talents for themselves.

When Jin Sanchen heard about the monthly allowance of six dollars, he subconsciously swallowed his saliva. If he could not let go of the land at home, he would have wanted to go there himself.

"The second type is nursing training school. They train nurses for hospitals. The program lasts two years. Most girls go there, but boys are welcome too. During school, if you do an internship at a hospital, you can get a monthly stipend of 10 yuan, and it also provides accommodation and meals.

Medical resources are in short supply right now, so you can graduate in two years and find a job in a hospital. You just have to be quick to learn, not afraid of blood, and meticulous. If your nephew is afraid of blood, don't go."

"The third one - military academy." He paused and looked at Jin Sanchen's face.

"Military academy?"

"Yes, it's run by the Anmin Army itself. It's called the 'Military Preparatory Middle School.' Students wear military uniforms and learn military and cultural knowledge. It's a three-year program. After graduation, they're directly assigned to the army as low-ranking officers. They get a twelve-yuan monthly living allowance, and the food is top-notch, with three meals a day and a midnight snack."

Jin Sanchen's heart skipped a beat and he asked, "Are we going to war?"

Administrator Zheng laughed, "The Japanese are almost done. By the time your nephew finishes five years of elementary school and another three years of preparatory military academy, eight years will have passed by the time he graduates and serves. Can the Japanese still hold out for eight years? I think even eight months won't be enough."

Jin Sanchen didn't quite agree with this conclusion. General Tang's troops in Henan Province had just been beaten to a pulp by the Japanese invaders, so how could they not even hold out for 8 months?

But he didn't say it, but listened quietly.

"However, all three schools have a prerequisite," Administrator Zheng said, changing the subject. "The student's parents and the student must sign a contract. After graduation, they must serve in the corresponding system for a full fifteen years and cannot quit midway."

"Fifteen years?" Jin Sanchen was stunned and muttered, "Isn't this just giving my whole life to someone else..."

"You're not entirely wrong. But you also have to think about it. You've escaped hardship and come here. You have land to farm, a house to live in, and your children can go to school. If your nephew can pass the exams using these three paths, he'll be a bona fide 'worker' in Nanyang."

"Besides, we don't charge you tuition and we provide you with a stipend. Isn't the purpose to allow students to enter the corresponding system as soon as possible after graduation?"

"Of course, not everyone can go to this school. You have to take an exam," Administrator Zheng added. "Fifth graders have to take the cultural courses, including essay writing, arithmetic, and current affairs knowledge. It's based on their regular grades and their entrance exam results. How is your nephew doing in elementary school?"

Jin Sanchen smacked his lips. "He can write his own name and do double-digit arithmetic. As for his composition... his entire 'My Dream' was about eating canned food and wearing leather shoes. It was pretty realistic."

Administrator Zheng: "Then give him some good tutoring. He's only 11 years old. Encourage him to study hard in elementary school. If that doesn't work, I can help you find another solution."

There was one thing he didn't say. If your academic performance is particularly good, you can get a scholarship from Sanbaotang to attend a public middle school, and then get another scholarship to study at the University of South China, which was established this year, or to enter a higher normal school or the National Defense University. Your future will be limitless.

Unfortunately, geniuses are not that common. If Jin Sanchen's nephew works hard, he may only be able to go to a normal school.

Jin Sanchen was thinking: his eldest brother left behind three children, a nephew, a second niece, and a young niece, all of whom were up to him to raise. The land he had on his own was definitely enough to grow food, but it was just a small amount of coarse grains and fine rice.

After attending night school, it was easy for him to figure out that if all three children stayed behind to farm, they would never have to worry about food and clothing, but they would not be able to make a lot of money.

Now that I'm in Southeast Asia, although the place is unfamiliar, I also have many opportunities. But opportunities are not like steamed buns, they won't fly into your mouth even if you wait.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Brother Zheng, if one child gets admitted to one of these three schools, will there be a spot for the second one?"

Administrator Zheng smiled and said, "Of course, as long as your children are capable, Commander-in-Chief Zhang is not afraid of you reading too much, but only afraid that you dare not read!"

He thought to himself: Whether to sign the fifteen-year agreement or not is a matter for later. Let's get the child out first.

They were born in a good time. Children from farming families have the opportunity to continue their studies, so they should not spend their whole lives working like slaves in the fields.

Especially his closest niece, who has the best academic performance and is praised by teachers every day, maybe there is really a chance for her to change her fate?

On the way back to the village, he walked very fast. What was in his head was not only thoughts, but also the entire life path of the three children.