Research On The Phenomena Of Giving Up Education In Rural Families

In recent years, the volume of the recruitment for higher education and the systems for tuition fee have greatly changed, which inevitably influences the understanding and attitude of people towards higher education. Since agriculture population is the majority in China, it is taken for granted that attentions are focused on how the rural families look on the reform of the system of higher education.Based on the phenomenon of giving up education in rural families, this thesis explores it through the theory of decision-making on education. Firstly, it has been pointed out the necessity of giving up higher education opportunity in rural families. Agriculture population is the majority in China. As to the social stratification in China, rural families are in the relatively lower position of the stratification. Education, especially higher education, is the main means for people in lower social stratification to move up to the higher position. When the rural families give up the educational opportunity, it means they cut off the way to move to the higher position by education, especially higher education. If such kind of phenomenon continues like this, it will probably constitute a threat to the social harmony and social crisis. Secondly, the reason for giving up the higher educational opportunity is presented. The raise of the tuition fee, which makes the financial burdens heavier for rural families, exerts an influence on their normal lives. Therefore, the rural families are forced to make decision on giving up education. Besides, the expanded size of the recruitment, which brings pressure to the employment, reduces the expectation of the profits upon the education. As a result, they give up the higher education opportunity. At the same time, both raise of the tuition fee and expanded size of the recruitment covertly do harm to the rural families. The raise of the tuition fee is not, comparatively, a disadvantage to the well-to-do family. Yet, that is not the case for the rural families. What is more, the expanded size of the recruitment eases the entrance requirements. Both factors mentioned above reduce the opportunity for the rural families to the access to higher education.This thesis made a fieldwork in Hu Guan, Shan Xi province and analyzed the rationality of this phenomenon about educational give-up and the factors that influence their decision. On the basis of the analysis of the cause of the decision-making on education, It also presents some suggestions for the educational give-up phenomenon in rural families.