Abstract
This paper investigates the rural-urban inequalities in basic education of contemporary China. The China Education Panel Survey (2013-2014) (CEPS) was utilized to analyze the gaps between rural and urban inequality in junior high schools in terms of three domains, which include the equalities of access, inputs, and outcomes. From the sociocultural and sociopolitical perspective, the household registration system impeded the improvement and development of Chinese basic education. The study found that insufficient funding and support provided the cumulative negative impacts on educational mobility and equality. The regional basic education divide was caused by ineffective and unequal allocation of education resources. This analysis also addresses a number of pertinent economic and political issues related to basic education in current China.
Highlights
China has witnessed a dramatic increase in economic development in recent decades
According to the data of students’ survey from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), it is summarized that students who have higher social economic status, educated parents, and sufficient educational supplements may have a greater possibility and are already more likely to be students who hold the urban household register
Based on statistical outcome of the current enrollment rate of Grade 7 compared with five years ago, 57% of rural schools’ presidents thought that enrollment rates in Grade 7 were decreased; about 56% urban presidents found that the enrollment rates in Grade 7 were increased compared with five years ago
Summary
China has witnessed a dramatic increase in economic development in recent decades. Poor rural children and youth have no priority to witness the economic prosperity of China in terms of sufficient basic schooling. The low competition rate of basic education in poor rural areas demonstrates the severity of the quality of rural schools. Only two-thirds of poor rural students could complete junior high schooling and most of these rural children directly entered the labor market as unskilled laborers [3]. Students from the low SES (social economic status) have a tendency to prematurely leave schools [4]. The competitive education system in current China impedes poor rural school students from receiving any additional education [5]. The rural-urban disparity in access to basic educational opportunities is primarily proceeding toward a continuous increase
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