A Study On The Lacking Of Local Government Responsibilities For School Enrollment Of Migrant Workers’ Children

Equal school entrance opportunity is an important part of education equity.Ensuring that children of migrant workers in cities have equal school entrance opportunity is one essential way of achieving education equity.As the undertaker of the national compulsory education,the government has an undeniable responsibility in guaranteeing the equal school entrance opportunity of every migrant child in cities.Based on relevant policies issued by the state and Ministry of Education,the study investigates school entrance opportunity of children of migrant workers in S District and further analyzes government’s responsibilities and performance in ensuring equal school entrance opportunity.Implications and suggestions are drawn for government to better promote equal school entrance opportunities.With a questionnaire survey and interviews,this study first investigates the current situation of school entrance opportunity of children of migrant workers in S District.Two major issues are identified which make it difficult for children of migrant workers to attend schools in cities.The first is that the unequal school entrance opportunity still exists,which is manifested through limited school choices,complicated entrance procedures and high tuitions.The second issue is the lack of government’s role in promoting equal entrance opportunity.More specific polic ies,financial aids and a supervision system are needed to better ensure equal entrance opportunities for children of migrant workers.Based on analysis of the current situation and causes,the author puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions to promote equal school entrance opportunity in terms of civil servants’ value,national policy and government management and supervision.The suggestions are as follows.Firstly,civil servants’ sense of responsibility should be improved.Secondly,the gover nment should optimize the relevant educational policy-making procedures,strengthen the publicity of existing and new policies,and then introduce a system of accountability for the failure of policy implementation.Thirdly,it is necessary to provide adequate financial aids and ensure its reasonable distribution to migrant children.A rigorous supervision system should also be set up to guarantee the proper use of the financial aids.