Disparities Between Rural And Urban Students In Access To Higher Education

While the massification of higher education has greatly increased students’college opportunities,the rural-urban disparities in access to higher education still presents due to the scarce resources of high quality higher education,as well as the rural-urban dualistic structure.The phenomenon of unequal education opportunities also affects people’s nerves.It is urgent to enhance the fairness in access to higher education and narrow its rural-urban disparities.Therefore,the thesis is trying to find out the view of rural and urban students about the disparities in access to key universities and the corresponding reasons.By adopting a qualitative approach,this thesis uses case study as research method,and collects empirical data through interviews and field observation.Through the method of purposeful sampling,there were forty-two undergraduates and six parents being interviewed in two key universities,one of which is a "985" project university--coded as X university,and another one is a "211" project university--coded as Y university.Based on the comparison of education experience of sampled students in the two universities,the thesis studies the rural-urban disparities in access to key universities,and analyses the reasons from the perspectives of family background,school context,regional education background and government policy.The thesis finds that the core factors affecting students’college opportunity are the family-related factors,then followed by society-related factors and government-related factors.Within the family-related factors,comparing to a family’s economic and social background,a family’s culture background has more profound influence on students’ access to higher education.Within the society-related factors,the distribution of quality higher education resources apparently has more influence.Within the government-related factors,the college entrance examination system is more correlated than urban-rural dualistic structure.The findings in the thesis show that the disparities between rural and urban students in access to key universities are not only existed in the current era,but also seem being expanded further.Additionally,the disparities have been reflected in the hierarchy,and level of the colleges and universities that the students entered.Disparities in family background and education resources are the main factors leading to the expansion of the rural-urban disparities.For the current moment,adopting a moderate preference policy and put more individual effort,are the crucial approached in narrowing the disparities.Based on the research findings,there are six solutions can be used to narrow the disparities between urban and rural students in access to key universities.Firstly,the government should reform the basic education investment system,in order to decrease the percentage of education investment accounted in the family expense.Secondly,the government should make rural schools more attractive to good teachers,and then the balance between the development of urban and rural education can be achieved.Thirdly,efforts should be made to improve the education quality of various types of colleges and universities,and increase the supply of high quality education resources.Fourthly,college admission quota allocated to different provinces rather than the key universities’ located provinces should be steadily increased,and the proportion of admitted rural students should be improved.Fifthly,high school should establish and perfect the information platform,to provide scientific guidance for rural students.Finally,the students should actively study hard and promote individual comprehensive ability.