How the Implementation Deviation of the “Double Reduction” Policy Happens: A Case Study in Chengdu

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 3:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Double Reduction, Multiple Realities: Policy Implementation, Adaptation, and Impact in China’s Education System

Abstract

In Confucian-influenced Asian education systems, exam-oriented education remain dominant, making academic burden a persistent challenge. China's "Double Reduction" policy aims to alleviate the excessive academic workload of students in compulsory education. However, its implementation had been hindered.Using the national pilot city Chengdu as a case study, this paper examines deviations in the implementation of the "double reduction" policy and identifies four key mechanisms contributing to these discrepancies: the ambiguity of policy objectives, stakeholders' resistance to change due to entrenched cognitive schemas, tensions between centralized enforcement and interdepartmental competition within government structures, and external environmental factors. By creating a new theoretical perspective, this study deepens the understanding of policy effectiveness and provides valuable insights for improving education governance.

Author

• XUEYANG MO, Beijing Normal University