A Study On The Differences Between Urban And Rural Areas In The Educational Choices Of Junior Middle School Graduates In China Under The Background Of General Vocational Diversion

Influenced by the urban-rural dual system,there is still a large gap in the level of education development between urban and rural areas in China.The proportion of junior high school graduates from poor rural areas flowing to society and secondary vocational schools is relatively high.In 2010,the data of the sixth national population census showed that 51.2% of the urban population aged 6 years and over with education from 15 to 19 years old received general senior high school education,while the proportion of rural population in this stage was only 25.06%.In2020,there will be 49.1409 million junior high school students,15.3529 million graduates,and3.9488 million children studying in secondary schools at the compulsory education stage.The education level of urban and rural junior high school graduates is uneven,and there are differences in enrollment opportunities.So,what choices will urban junior high school graduates and rural junior high school graduates make for such a large group of education graduates? How has this choice changed in recent years? Under the background of general vocational division,what are the differences in educational choices between urban junior high school graduates and rural junior high school graduates? What led them to make such a choice? Exploring these problems and understanding the educational choice behavior of junior high school graduates at different stages is of great significance and value for the optimization of the educational structure of senior high school.This research is based on four schools in Shanxi Province and Hebei Province,including two urban junior middle schools and two rural junior middle schools.It investigates the whereabouts of their graduates,counts the results of students’ educational choices,and combines local students and teachers to understand the current situation of school entrance;Subsequently,41 urban and rural junior high school graduates from 16 provinces in China who have participated in the secondary school entrance examination since the reform and opening up were interviewed to learn about the educational choices made by different junior high school graduates in different periods,the reasons for their choices,and their views on the general vocational diversion policy.After sorting out and analyzing the interview data,combined with the theory of social division of labor,the theory of educational choice and the existing research results,this paper analyzes the impact of educational policies,population mobility,family environment and other factors on the educational choice of urban and rural junior high school graduates,and draws the following conclusions:First,ordinary high schools have always been the primary will of urban junior high school graduates.Data shows that the number of urban junior high school graduates entering ordinary high schools is far higher than that of secondary vocational schools;Before the allocation of secondary vocational schools,rural junior middle school graduates tend to secondary vocational schools,followed by dropouts.After the cancellation of the allocation of secondary vocational schools,rural junior middle school graduates are more willing to enter ordinary high schools.However,the data shows that the number of rural junior middle school graduates entering ordinary high schools is lower than that entering secondary vocational schools,and many rural junior middle school graduates are forced to enter secondary vocational schools.Second,policy factors such as the policy of general vocational separation,the policy of popularizing education in senior high school,and the policy of moving children to another school after compulsory education limit the opportunities for rural junior high school graduates to enter ordinary senior high schools,and affect the educational choices of rural junior high school graduates.Third,family economic conditions,educational expectations and other factors guide the educational choices of urban and rural junior high school graduates.Families with good economic conditions hope that their children can attend ordinary high schools and take college entrance exams.Families with weak economic conditions,even though they have high educational expectations,will also choose to let their children enter secondary vocational schools for free education due to economic conditions.Based on the above research conclusions,this study proposes the following countermeasures:First,adjust the proportion of general vocational education according to local conditions to ensure the educational needs of rural students;Second,we should solve the problem of migrant children going to school in different places after compulsory education,and coordinate the development of urban and rural education;Third,we should broaden the channels for secondary vocational schools to grow and become talents,pay equal attention to education and employment,and enhance the attractiveness of secondary vocational schools...