Freshmen carry their baggage on the first day of their college life at Huaibei Normal University in Huaibei, Anhui province, Sept 12, 2012. [Photo/IC]

IN ORDER TO HELP the poor receive higher education, colleges and universities offer subsidies to the students from poor families. However, they forbid these "legally poor" students from consuming luxuriously and a college has deprived a student of his subsidy because he has bought a pair of Nike shoes. Beijing Times comments:

Should poor students, who receive subsidies from colleges, be forbidden to buy expensive clothing or enjoy expensive meals? Some say yes, arguing that the subsidies offered to poor students are meant to help them finish higher education, instead of buying luxuries.

That sounds fair, but the subsidies are offered to help improve their living standards as well. Are they required to eat bad food and wear cheap clothing just because they receive subsidies? Are they supposed to stand out from their peers for being poor?

Besides, some relatively expensive clothing, such as a suit, for instance, is actually important for students. They need a suit for job interviews. If the poor students are forbidden from buying one because they are receiving a subsidy, they will lose the chance of getting a good job, thus have no hope of pursuing a better life.

Worse, forbidding students from poor families from spending the money so as to fit in with their peers might plant the seed of inequality in their hearts.

We do not mean that poor students should be encouraged to spend their subsidy frivolously, but they should not be forbidden from spending it on non-essential items, either.