Silent Revolution by Chinese Migrant Workers

In Han Xiuyun's （韩秀云） book 看不懂的中国经济 (中信出版社,2008), the author has described the exposure of Chinese migrant workers (pictured) to city life as a "silent but real educational revolution." (一场悄无声息的真正的教育革命)

“如果像西方那样由政府出钱把农民都请进课堂进行职业培训，是不现实的。但是中国十年农民工大潮，竟不知不觉完成了这一场教育农民的伟大革命，农民工的经济意识和民主意识都有了空前提高。他们边学边干，成了亚洲高素质的劳动力，雇主的付出同样功不可没。但经济出现新的机会时，他们选择留在老家，选择自己创业，开个理发店，做个包工头，开个小餐馆。”

"It is unrealistic for the government to come up with the money to train rural dwellers in classrooms. But during the decade-long wave of migrant workers working in urban areas, they have unknowingly received a great revolutionary educational experience.

"The economic and democratic awareness of migrant workers have been raised to an all-time high. While working and learning, they have emerged as Asia's high-calibre work force (hmm, somewhat questionable claim). The contributions made by their employers should also not be overlooked.

"When new economic opportunities emerge, they can decide to remain at home and become entrepreneurs by opening a barber shop, becoming a contractor, or opening a small restaurant."