An examination of post-compulsory education for migrant children in urban China

Migrant workers are an important source of labor, becoming the engine of rapid development in urban areas in China. Despite the fact they have made a significant contribution to China’s economic prosperity, they and their children have limited access to social welfares in the host cities due to their lack of local urban hukou (household registration). This study aims to investigate migrant children’s access to senior secondary education in urban areas. I will conduct the study in Suzhou which is an economically-developed city on China’s east coast that offers job prospects and therefore appeals to the migrant population. I intend to conduct individual interviews with five migrant children and five teachers working with this group of children in junior high school. This project will make policy recommendations to the municipal and central governments to increase migrant children’s participation in high school in urban areas.

Faculty Supervisor:

Xuemei Li

Student:

Partner:

Soochow University

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: