China Bans Transfers of Students and Teachers Between Schools
China’s Ministry of Education has announced a major reform aimed at preventing the loss of teachers and pupils from county-level high schools. Under the newly issued guidelines, city and provincial high schools will no longer be allowed to transfer successful principals, teachers or students from county schools.
According to officials, the measure is designed to address the growing problem of “collapsing county high schools” in recent years. Around 60 per cent of China’s high school students are enrolled in county-level institutions, and the performance of these schools is seen as crucial for the future of more than 16.7 million young people. However, as many talented teachers and high-achieving pupils have gravitated towards better-resourced urban schools, the quality of education in county schools has steadily declined.
The new plan aims to strengthen resources in county-level high schools by 2030, ensure a more balanced distribution of schools and narrow the education gap between urban and rural areas. It also stresses the need to reform the evaluation system, criticising the current focus on university entrance rates as the sole measure of success. Provincial authorities have been tasked with setting daily schedules as well as winter and summer holidays for high school students. In addition, schools are now banned from holding extra classes or examinations at weekends, on public holidays or during school breaks.
Experts believe the reform will particularly benefit underdeveloped regions, raising educational standards and making county-level schools more attractive once again.