The Education Issues of the Children of Internal Migrant Workers in China

Abstract

The education issues of rural migrant children in China have been a public focus since mid-1990s. Due to the restrictions of their Household Registration status, the migrant children have often been rejected by the public schools in the cities, provoking the public questioning about school access and assurance of education equality in China for these children. Until now, rural migrant students face unequal treatment in the urban public school system, and the education problems of migrant children have not been well resolved. This chapter uncovers the major obstacles that the rural migrant students face regarding their schooling in the residential cities. By reviewing major laws and policies regarding the schooling of the children of rural migrants from 1985 to 2010, this chapter aims to provide readers a comprehensive examination on the development of the governmental solutions to the educational issues of the rural migrant children. In addition, it also introduces the historical background of the education issues of the rural migrant children, their school choices in the cities, as well as the discrimination that they face in the College Entrance Exam and college admission.