Toward an Unequal World? Disparities in School Responses to China's Double Reduction Policy

• In Event: Thursday Roundtable Session 12:40 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Examining State and National Policy Change: National and International Perspectives (Table 16)

Abstract

The Chinese government's admission reform, Double Reduction (DR), aims to reduce students' burden through measures like closing school institutions and implementing inner after-school programs (ASP). This study compares ASP implementation and its impact on the gap between rural and urban schools. Two urban schools and two rural schools are selected as comparative cases and in-deep interviewing is conducted with 12 teachers. Two “doing policy” types are identified: proactive adaptation in urban schools, and passive compliance in rural schools. The findings indicate that DR has differing effects on schools, with urban schools aligning with its values and reform paths while rural schools lag behind. The study provides insight into schools' DR interpretation and application, offering a microscopic examination of policy effects.

Authors

• Danlei Zhu, East China Normal University

• Keyi Lyu, Hangzhou Normal University