Chapter 694

Finally, Lu Fan said to Luo Shiyu: "Education is both a matter of national economy and people's livelihood, and more importantly, it is the fundamental interest of the people."

To realize, safeguard, and develop the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people, we must firmly grasp the issues of interest that the people care most about, that are most direct and most realistic.

The people's expectation for better education is a yearning for a better life, and also the struggle goal of the provincial Party committee and provincial government; we must continue to work hard on providing care for the young and education for learners.

Continued investment in education is a fundamental and strategic investment supporting the long-term development of the grasslands; it must be placed in a priority position in fiscal expenditure, prioritizing arrangements for educational development and guaranteeing educational input. Fully understanding the needs of parents, students, and society, we should actively respond to the concerns of the masses.

As for the funds needed for zero-fee education, part can be taken from the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee's integrity account, which should yield about 2–3 billion; another part I will go lobby the superiors for, and if they don't give more, they should at least support around 500 million; the remaining part will need to be covered by the provincial finance.

Governor Luo Shiyu, you are the 'chief steward'; you need to show your stance!

Luo Shiyu smiled slightly and said: "As the secretary said, running education that satisfies the people is the expectation of all people in the province, and also a progressive, endless, arduous struggle. You have already solved half of the difficulty just now; the provincial government must keep up with the steps of the provincial Party committee no matter how difficult."

However, I have an idea: the funds needed for zero-fee education should not be borne solely by the provincial finance; municipal and county finances also share this responsibility, and a 5:3:2 ratio is within their capacity.

Lu Fan calculated: with 5.5 billion in funds, the municipal level bears 30%, which is 1.65 billion, spread across cities, that's about one or two hundred million each; the county level bears 20%, which is 1.1 billion, spread across 103 banners and counties, that's over ten million each, which is not a big problem.

Then he said: "This can be considered; let's do it this way for now. The funds I just promised count on me; the provincial finance will first raise 2 billion, and according to a 50% ratio, we only need to prepare 1 billion, which will greatly ease the pressure."

Luo Shiyu replied with a smile: "No problem, we must not hold back the provincial Party committee!"

Hearing this, Finance Department Head Sun Guoren was somewhat speechless; it seems all the good deeds let you be the governor, while I am neither here nor there, and I still have to raise the money? If I had known this would be the result, why did I say all that earlier?

Moreover, thinking that June is just around the corner, what if Lu Fan really becomes the top leader...

Sun Guoren felt worse the more he thought, growing increasingly despondent; he deeply understood a truth: once a rift appears, it only grows larger, cannot be mended to its original state, and reconciliation cannot return to the way it was; he must do something to mend this rift as much as possible.

After finishing work, Lu Fan sat at his desk, intently reviewing the pile of documents as high as a mountain. Sunlight streamed through the window onto him, casting a slender, focused silhouette.

Suddenly, Sun Guoren pushed the door open and entered; seeing him with his head lowered, his steps heavy, his face showing obvious guilt, he slowly walked up to Lu Fan.

Taking a deep breath, he raised his head to look at Lu Fan and said sincerely: "Secretary, I have just made a serious mistake! I only thought about the temporary difficulties of my own department, completely failing to consider the overall situation; this is a serious lack of global perspective. Please, Secretary, you must criticize me severely!" After saying this, he lowered his head again, his attitude very proper.

Lu Fan put down his pen, raised his head to look at Sun Guoren, and said slowly: "Comrade, you are essentially not bad; after serving several years as finance department head, you haven't made any glaring mistakes. However, relying solely on pinching pennies as finance department head won't do; this approach can't keep up with the times! You work conscientiously and have strong principles; I think you would make a fine head of the audit department!"

The finance department head should correctly position finance within the economy and society, recognizing that finance is not only an economic issue but also a political one. Actively promote fiscal reform, strengthen fiscal rule-of-law construction, and improve fiscal management efficiency. For example, one can push for tax reform, optimize fiscal expenditure structure, ensure effective use of fiscal funds, and leverage the 'four ounces moving a thousand catties' effect of fiscal funds.

At the same time, we must strengthen supervision of fiscal funds. Think about it: each year we allocate hundreds of billions, even trillions—what effect does that money have? How much impact do those projects have? How much economic and social benefit do they create? How much funds are embezzled? That is the main reason why fiscal funds are insufficient.

Moreover, the most important thing for a finance department head is 'making money'! When I say making money, I don't mean extorting from enterprises and ordinary people; I mean understanding how to use existing funds to create greater and larger value! You also need to know how to 'secure funds for the department'; as far as I know, our grasslands rank among the lowest nationwide in seeking superior funds and projects, and frankly speaking, you have not played the role you should.

Hearing these words, Sun Guoren felt a chill down his back and broke out in a cold sweat. In his work so far, no one has ever criticized him so severely, and these issues have never been pointed out before; upon reflection, there indeed are gaps in his work.

Upon careful thought, he felt terrified and began to worry about his future; he hurriedly made amends: "Secretary, your criticism is like enlightening nectar poured on the head, letting me deeply realize the problems in my work; I will certainly reflect and mend my ways, strengthen study, change concepts, improve quality, and under the strong leadership of the provincial Party committee and your careful guidance, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to doing well as finance department head."

Lu Fan said earnestly: "In employing people, we must adhere to the principle of using people according to their abilities, pay attention to using people's strengths and avoiding their weaknesses."

Each talent's specific situation varies; some are generalists, some are versatile, some are specialists. The duty of the provincial Party committee is to seek truth from facts, take strengths and avoid weaknesses, first look at strengths, draw on strengths, develop strengths, display talents, and provide conditions for all kinds of talents to fully exhibit their abilities, so that people can make the best use of their talents and talents can be fully utilized.

You may go back first; the provincial Party committee will consider personnel selection comprehensively and will not let honest people suffer losses.

"Then I'll not disturb you, Secretary; if there's anything, just tell me!" After leaving the office, Sun Guoren carefully pondered every word Lu Fan said, began to feel uncertain about gains and losses, and didn't know which way to go.

After a week of preparation, in mid-May, the Provincial Party Committee held a standing committee meeting and passed the 'Grasslands Province Compulsory Education Stage Zero-Fee Implementation Plan'.

For such a livelihood project, only when the main leadership has made up its mind do few standing committee members dare to stand up and oppose, because doing so would be a foolish act of alienating oneself from the people.

At the meeting, Lu Fan emphasized two requirements for education work. First, in the in-depth promotion of governance of off-campus training institutions, for new situations and problems that arise, such as training institutions and individuals 'skirting the edge' or turning underground as covert variant training issues, the Education Department needs to issue corresponding guiding opinions to prevent policy vacuums. Increase the crackdown on covert variant violations such as 'one-on-one', 'high-end domestic services', 'crowdfunded private tutoring', and 'resident teachers', effectively alleviating public anxiety.

Second, strictly implement superior requirements; all primary and secondary schools must strictly enforce the regulations on total amount of centralized study time on campus. Day students in elementary, junior high, and senior high schools shall not exceed 6, 7, and 8 hours of centralized study time per day, respectively. Elementary grades 1–6: 30 class hours per week; junior high: 34 class hours per week; senior high: 35 class hours per week.

On May 20, the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government convened a provincial leadership cadre conference, with Governor Luo Shiyu presiding over the meeting.

At the meeting, the head of the Provincial Education Department, Wen Chaozhi, conveyed the 'Grasslands Province Compulsory Education Stage Zero-Fee Implementation Plan': starting today, all primary and secondary schools in the nine-year compulsory education stage across the province will implement a zero-fee policy; no school at the compulsory education stage may charge students any fees, and the related expenses will be covered by the provincial, municipal, and county/district governments.

The list of zero-fee items for the nine-year compulsory education stage rolled out this time mainly includes: each semester, free provision of teaching aids, learning supplies, and exercise books for on-campus students; exemption of textbook fees for urban compulsory education students and accommodation fees for boarders; and each autumn semester, free provision of one set of uniforms for first- and fourth-grade elementary students and first-year junior high students.

Deputy Provincial Governor Zhang Rongqiu emphasized that work discipline must be strictly enforced and supervision and inspection strengthened. All relevant schools must strictly implement the statistical system, carefully verify the number of on-campus students, seek truth from facts, and must not obtain subsidy funds by falsifying student numbers. All levels of education supervision departments should treat the zero-fee work for compulsory education as an important part of education supervision and strengthen supervision and inspection. The education, finance, price control, audit, and supervision departments should strengthen oversight of the allocation and use of education funds and inspection.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Lu Fan emphasized in his speech that implementing zero-fee nine-year compulsory education across the province is a major measure by the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government to improve people's livelihood, promote educational equity and social harmony, and also a people's livelihood project benefiting the broad masses of students and parents. All cities, counties, and relevant departments must attach great importance, strengthen organization and leadership, implement work responsibilities, ensure funds are in place, improve usage efficiency, and truly carry out and implement this people-benefiting policy well.

Finally, Lu Fan solemnly said: "This zero-fee education, the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government have made great determination, tightening their belts to squeeze out funds; all cities and counties must implement the policy without deviation, all educational expenditures shall be covered by finance, and students will be able to enroll with just their bags."

Whenever any school dares to charge fees, parents can directly report to the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial Government, Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, and Provincial Education Department; reports must be investigated, investigated cases must be corrected, law enforcement must be strict, and the principal will be removed on the spot, with no leniency.

Moreover, among the 13 free items stipulated by the Education Department, there will surely be oversights; they need to be improved and perfected during policy implementation. If schools have rigid needs, they can apply for special funds to the local education department, and next semester the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial Government, and Provincial Education Department will coordinate to meet schools' needs.

In short, there is one principle: all education expenditures in the grasslands will be covered by finance.