Shanghai's education resources are not endless, but rather, facing scarcity.

Among students with Shanghai hukou, or household registration, only half of middle school graduates are able to enter high schools, and less than 15 percent can attend key high schools. It is unfair to say every Shanghai student can get into universities with no effort.

It is reasonable for a city to consider its residents a priority when resources are scarce. Shanghai authorities have already invested a large sum in migrant children's education. I've learned online that last year, the investment had reached 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) for migrant students' education in Shanghai, and more than 30 billion yuan has been added for education infrastructure.

People blame the household registration, but I disagree with the calls to cancel the household registration without an alternative plan. The effective way is to develop the regional economy.

Lu is a 30-year-old manager at a global manufacturing company in Shanghai. He did not want to be identified for fear of reprisals.

The presumption is that allowing migrant children to take the gaokao in any metropolis will improve education equality. However, the policy itself demonstrates tremendous unfairness.

It is a battle between two groups fighting for selfish interests.

The policy adds requirements for migrant workers sharing the same rights with native residents, such as a stable income and residential permits. It allows families with more resources to enter a metropolis and share rights there.

And it is unfair for children with the same household registrations as the migrant children. They cannot enjoy good education resources because they are not living in a metropolis.

Chen Wu, 56, a Beijing parent, who spoke on condition of using his online pseudonym.

Zhang Qianfan, Zhou Yanping, Lu and Chen Wu were talking to China Daily reporters Luo Wangshu.

(China Daily 01/24/2013 page7)