The Social and Educational Impact of Rural Migration in China

Abstract

This special issue examines the educational challenges faced by marginalized groups in China, exploring the interplay between socioeconomic factors, policy environments, and individual agency. The articles address issues related to rural migrancy and education, focusing on understudied regions, ethnicities, and gender dynamics. Between 2010 and 2020, about 74 percent of the rural population migrated for work and schooling. Biases against rural culture as “low-quality” and the significant rural-urban educational gap continue to perpetuate rural disadvantage. Three articles highlight the interplay between individual behaviors, family/community influences, and reinterpretation of educational mandates. Three studies reveal how the proactive efforts of parents and youth maximize educational opportunities despite structural barriers. Two studies provide insights into the education of two ethnic minorities in large territories along China’s northern and western borders. The issue contextualizes these studies within China’s economic transition, national policies, and population trends. With the declining urban birth rate, urban jobs in middle to high-tech sectors will increasingly rely on rural migrant youth. However, the third generation of migrant youth may still be underprepared for a more demanding labor market, as the rapid shift to a middle-class ­consumer economy outpaces educational improvements.