Research on the Educational Demand of Migrant Children and Its Impact Factors: A Parental Perspective

• In Event: 61.055 - Inequality in Educational Opportunities: Evidence From China

Abstract

In China’s urban–rural dual economy, large-scale migration has arisen, along with the rapid development of urbanization. Facing the inequality of migrant children’s education, the government should bear more responsibility for establishing the inclusive educational system in the near future. Based on the framework of education supply-and-demand theory, the study collects first-hand data of migrant children’s education in six cities in China. Focusing on the demand for education from the parent’s perspective, the paper analyzes the educational demand of migrant children and its impact factors using an ordinal logistic regression model. The results reveal a great disparity of educational demand among the migrant children. Factors such as the frequency of parents’ job changes, the parents’ willingness to stay in the city, family income, and entrance requirements of urban schools have significant effects on the educational demand of migrant children. Given the diversity of educational demand, governments should implement a “positive discrimination policy” for migrant children. In the meantime, educational fiscal policy, rural education policy, and school distribution should be deeply reformed in China to narrow the educational gap between urban and rural areas.

Authors

• Wanpeng Lei, Central China Normal University

• Lu Xu, Central China Normal University

• Yao Xie, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University