Educational Expansion and Shortages in Secondary Schools in China: the bottle neck syndrome

Abstract

This article explores a developmental issue in education in China—the shortage of Chinese secondary schools. China has dramatically expanded access to elementary education since the passing of the Compulsory Education Law in 1986, and in recent years, higher education has also undergone rapid expansion. However, access to secondary schools, especially senior high schools, is still very restricted. There is a dire shortage of senior high schools, which is most serious in the rural areas. There are historical as well as policy issues involved in the lag in the developing of secondary schools. China is now facing the challenge to enlarge access to secondary education in order to meet the demands by society and the needs of a fast developing economy. Central and local governments have discussed ways to resolve the shortage. This discussion, however, is being complicated by the demand for cheap labor for the expanding market economy in the country, and the lack of will to put money and resources into this level of education which would benefit the rural people greatly.