Jump to content

Double Reduction Policy: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎Lack of Sleep and Obesity: need a more reliable source for this statement than WP:CHINADAILY
Citation bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
4,953,961 edits
Alter: title, pmc, url, issue. URLs might have been anonymized. Add: newspaper, id, doi-access, s2cid, pmc, pmid, authors 1-1. Removed proxy/dead URL that duplicated identifier. Removed parameters. Some additions/deletions were parameter name changes. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Amigao | #UCB_toolbar
Line 11: Line 11:


=== Heavy Time Investment in Study ===
=== Heavy Time Investment in Study ===
The time investment of Chinese [[Adolescence|adolescents]] in their studies is among the highest in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wei |first=Kan |title=Copying the long Chinese school day could have unintended consequences |url=http://theconversation.com/copying-the-long-chinese-school-day-could-have-unintended-consequences-23398 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref> [[Shanghai]] students aged 12 to 14 spend 9.8 hours a day on-campus studying.<ref name=":0" /> Chinese students' average study time commitment is 55 hours per week, far beyond an international average of 44 hours.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ma |first=Yingyi |date=December 17, 2019 |title=China’s education system produces stellar test scores. So why do 600,000 students go abroad each year to study? |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/17/chinas-education-system-produces-stellar-test-scores-so-why-do-students-head-abroad-each-year-study/ |access-date=2023-02-27}}</ref>
The time investment of Chinese [[Adolescence|adolescents]] in their studies is among the highest in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Wei |first=Kan |title=Copying the long Chinese school day could have unintended consequences |url=http://theconversation.com/copying-the-long-chinese-school-day-could-have-unintended-consequences-23398 |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=The Conversation |language=en}}</ref> [[Shanghai]] students aged 12 to 14 spend 9.8 hours a day on-campus studying.<ref name=":0" /> Chinese students' average study time commitment is 55 hours per week, far beyond an international average of 44 hours.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ma |first=Yingyi |date=December 17, 2019 |title=China's education system produces stellar test scores. So why do 600,000 students go abroad each year to study? |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/17/chinas-education-system-produces-stellar-test-scores-so-why-do-students-head-abroad-each-year-study/ |access-date=2023-02-27}}</ref>


Due to the competitive pressure of the [[Senior High School Entrance Examination]], [[Middle school|Junior High School]] students in China's [[Chinese city tier system|first-tier cities]] improve their school academic performance or academic competition through extracurricular tutoring.<ref name=":0" /> In Shanghai, more than 45 percent of students attend math tutoring classes at least four hours a week, and more than 20 percent even invest more than four hours in attending [[tutoring]] classes.<ref name=":0" /> Students from [[Rural society in China|rural areas]] attend four-hour "[https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/a-brief-introduction-the-chinese-education-system evening sessions]" offered by boarding schools.<ref name=":0" /> In Chinese [[Secondary school|high school]]<nowiki/>s, “evening sessions" don't end until 11 pm.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=A day in the life of Chinese students {{!}} HechingerEd Blog |url=http://hechingered.org/content/a-day-in-the-life-of-chinese-students_3826/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> And Chinese adolescents' tutoring hours during weekends increased from 0.7 hours to 2.1hours from 2005 to 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title="双减"之下 教育还要迎接哪些挑战 |url=http://www.scjc.gov.cn/scjc/rdzx/2021/9/6/61b5f9039bdb44ac8af7fe5be0fc8cd5.shtml |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.scjc.gov.cn}}</ref>
Due to the competitive pressure of the [[Senior High School Entrance Examination]], [[Middle school|Junior High School]] students in China's [[Chinese city tier system|first-tier cities]] improve their school academic performance or academic competition through extracurricular tutoring.<ref name=":0" /> In Shanghai, more than 45 percent of students attend math tutoring classes at least four hours a week, and more than 20 percent even invest more than four hours in attending [[tutoring]] classes.<ref name=":0" /> Students from [[Rural society in China|rural areas]] attend four-hour "[https://www.open.edu/openlearn/education-development/a-brief-introduction-the-chinese-education-system evening sessions]" offered by boarding schools.<ref name=":0" /> In Chinese [[Secondary school|high school]]<nowiki/>s, “evening sessions" don't end until 11 pm.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=A day in the life of Chinese students {{!}} HechingerEd Blog |url=http://hechingered.org/content/a-day-in-the-life-of-chinese-students_3826/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> And Chinese adolescents' tutoring hours during weekends increased from 0.7 hours to 2.1hours from 2005 to 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title="双减"之下 教育还要迎接哪些挑战 |url=http://www.scjc.gov.cn/scjc/rdzx/2021/9/6/61b5f9039bdb44ac8af7fe5be0fc8cd5.shtml |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=www.scjc.gov.cn}}</ref>


=== Lack of Sleep and Obesity ===
=== Lack of Sleep and Obesity ===
As students need to finish their homework after [[cram school]], students' sleeping time get affected and lack of sleep becomes a common trend among Chinese [[Adolescence|adolescents]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> There is a positive correlation between the homework amount during weekdays and the proportion of [[overweight]] Chinese adolescents.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Ren |first=Hong |last2=Zhou |first2=Zhixiong |last3=Liu |first3=Wenxi Kevin |last4=Wang |first4=Xiujiang |last5=Yin |first5=Zenong |date=January 2017 |title=Excessive homework, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and screen viewing time are major contributors to high paediatric obesity |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.13640 |journal=Acta Paediatrica |language=en |volume=106 |issue=1 |pages=120–127 |doi=10.1111/apa.13640 |via=NCBI}}</ref> However, sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends shows a negative correlation with adolescent students.<ref name=":3" /> The obesity rate among Chinese children aged 5 to 19 exceeded 18 percent in 2016, almost five times the obesity rate (4 percent) in 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Zhang |first=Na |last2=Ma |first2=Guansheng |date=2018-03-01 |title=Childhood obesity in China: trends, risk factors, policies and actions |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2414644719301150 |journal=Global Health Journal |language=en |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1016/S2414-6447(19)30115-0 |issn=2414-6447}}</ref> 7–9 years old young Chinese [[primary school]] students have the most significant obesity problem, "5.7% for boys and 8% for girls".<ref name=":3" /> 19.6 percent of Grade 1 Chinese students are [[overweight]]. And the obesity rate of [[primary school]] students in grades 1-3 increase faster than students in grades 4–6.<ref name=":3" />
As students need to finish their homework after [[cram school]], students' sleeping time get affected and lack of sleep becomes a common trend among Chinese [[Adolescence|adolescents]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> There is a positive correlation between the homework amount during weekdays and the proportion of [[overweight]] Chinese adolescents.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Ren |first1=Hong |last2=Zhou |first2=Zhixiong |last3=Liu |first3=Wenxi Kevin |last4=Wang |first4=Xiujiang |last5=Yin |first5=Zenong |date=January 2017 |title=Excessive homework, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and screen viewing time are major contributors to high paediatric obesity |journal=Acta Paediatrica |language=en |volume=106 |issue=1 |pages=120–127 |doi=10.1111/apa.13640 |pmid=27759894 |pmc=6680318 }}</ref> However, sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends shows a negative correlation with adolescent students.<ref name=":3" /> The obesity rate among Chinese children aged 5 to 19 exceeded 18 percent in 2016, almost five times the obesity rate (4 percent) in 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Na |last2=Ma |first2=Guansheng |date=2018-03-01 |title=Childhood obesity in China: trends, risk factors, policies and actions |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2414644719301150 |journal=Global Health Journal |language=en |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |doi=10.1016/S2414-6447(19)30115-0 |issn=2414-6447}}</ref> 7–9 years old young Chinese [[primary school]] students have the most significant obesity problem, "5.7% for boys and 8% for girls".<ref name=":3" /> 19.6 percent of Grade 1 Chinese students are [[overweight]]. And the obesity rate of [[primary school]] students in grades 1-3 increase faster than students in grades 4–6.<ref name=":3" />


=== Suicide and Mental Health Problem ===
=== Suicide and Mental Health Problem ===
Suicide is the highest cause of death among Chinese teenagers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The rise of youth suicide in China |url=https://theweek.com/articles/457373/rise-youth-suicide-china |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref> Seventy-nine primary and secondary school suicides in 2013 were linked to the pressure of exam-oriented education in China and fierce competition in schools.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=China's Cutthroat School System Leads to Teen Suicides |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/15/chinas-cutthroat-school-system-leads-to-teen-suicides/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref> Sixty-three percent of the suicides occurred in the second semester, which was closer to [[Senior High School Entrance Examination]] and [[Gaokao|"gaokao" (National College Entrance Examination)]]. Depression caused by stress is one main factor in suicide, and more than 10% of Chinese adolescents have depression problem.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Jiang |first=Shan |last2=Ren |first2=Qiang |last3=Jiang |first3=Chaoxin |last4=Wang |first4=Lin |date=2021-12-01 |title=Academic stress and depression of Chinese adolescents in junior high schools: Moderated mediation model of school burnout and self-esteem |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032721008909 |journal=Journal of Affective Disorders |language=en |volume=295 |pages=384–389 |doi=10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.085 |issn=0165-0327}}</ref> Thirty-three percent of suicides are related to family conflicts, which is even higher than the suicide rate directly caused by study stress (twenty-two percent).<ref name=":7" /> Moreover, China currently does not provide adequate psychological resources for students with psychological problems and cause difficulty for students solving mental health problems.<ref name=":5" />
Suicide is the highest cause of death among Chinese teenagers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The rise of youth suicide in China |url=https://theweek.com/articles/457373/rise-youth-suicide-china |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref> Seventy-nine primary and secondary school suicides in 2013 were linked to the pressure of exam-oriented education in China and fierce competition in schools.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=China's Cutthroat School System Leads to Teen Suicides |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/15/chinas-cutthroat-school-system-leads-to-teen-suicides/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref> Sixty-three percent of the suicides occurred in the second semester, which was closer to [[Senior High School Entrance Examination]] and [[Gaokao|"gaokao" (National College Entrance Examination)]]. Depression caused by stress is one main factor in suicide, and more than 10% of Chinese adolescents have depression problem.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Jiang |first1=Shan |last2=Ren |first2=Qiang |last3=Jiang |first3=Chaoxin |last4=Wang |first4=Lin |date=2021-12-01 |title=Academic stress and depression of Chinese adolescents in junior high schools: Moderated mediation model of school burnout and self-esteem |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032721008909 |journal=Journal of Affective Disorders |language=en |volume=295 |pages=384–389 |doi=10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.085 |pmid=34492431 |s2cid=237442845 |issn=0165-0327}}</ref> Thirty-three percent of suicides are related to family conflicts, which is even higher than the suicide rate directly caused by study stress (twenty-two percent).<ref name=":7" /> Moreover, China currently does not provide adequate psychological resources for students with psychological problems and cause difficulty for students solving mental health problems.<ref name=":5" />


== Purpose of Policy Implementation ==
== Purpose of Policy Implementation ==


=== Alleviate Parental Educational Anxiety and Pressure ===
=== Alleviate Parental Educational Anxiety and Pressure ===
Chinese families, influenced by [[Confucianism]] and “huge income gaps linked to educational credential”, consider their children's academic performance as an effective means of achieving upward [[social mobility]].<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Zhao |first=Xu |last2=Selman |first2=Robert L. |last3=Haste |first3=Helen |date=2015-12-31 |editor-last=Cheng |editor-first=May |title=Academic stress in Chinese schools and a proposed preventive intervention program |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2014.1000477 |journal=Cogent Education |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=1000477 |doi=10.1080/2331186X.2014.1000477}}</ref> Parents' high expectations are also linked to the [[one-child policy]], implemented in 1979.<ref name=":8" /> Because Chinese families have only one offspring and the Chinese workplace is increasingly competitive, parents place extreme demands on their child to succeed academically.<ref name=":8" /> Because of the psychological feeling of "[[Class envy|upper-class envy]]" and "lower-class fears" among Chinese parents, families tend to spend significant educational expenditures, especially on expensive after-school tutoring.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yu |first=Shuo |last2=Zheng |first2=Jiansong |last3=Xu |first3=Zhibin |last4=Zhang |first4=Tao |date=2022-05-19 |title=The Transformation of Parents’ Perception of Education Involution Under the Background of "Double Reduction" Policy: The Mediating Role of Education Anxiety and Perception of Education Equity |url=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.800039/full |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=13 |pages=800039 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.800039 |issn=1664-1078 |pmc=PMC9161288 |pmid=35664177}}</ref>
Chinese families, influenced by [[Confucianism]] and “huge income gaps linked to educational credential”, consider their children's academic performance as an effective means of achieving upward [[social mobility]].<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last1=Zhao |first1=Xu |last2=Selman |first2=Robert L. |last3=Haste |first3=Helen |date=2015-12-31 |editor-last=Cheng |editor-first=May |title=Academic stress in Chinese schools and a proposed preventive intervention program |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2014.1000477 |journal=Cogent Education |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=1000477 |doi=10.1080/2331186X.2014.1000477|s2cid=154372408 }}</ref> Parents' high expectations are also linked to the [[one-child policy]], implemented in 1979.<ref name=":8" /> Because Chinese families have only one offspring and the Chinese workplace is increasingly competitive, parents place extreme demands on their child to succeed academically.<ref name=":8" /> Because of the psychological feeling of "[[Class envy|upper-class envy]]" and "lower-class fears" among Chinese parents, families tend to spend significant educational expenditures, especially on expensive after-school tutoring.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yu |first1=Shuo |last2=Zheng |first2=Jiansong |last3=Xu |first3=Zhibin |last4=Zhang |first4=Tao |date=2022-05-19 |title=The Transformation of Parents' Perception of Education Involution Under the Background of "Double Reduction" Policy: The Mediating Role of Education Anxiety and Perception of Education Equity |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=13 |pages=800039 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.800039 |issn=1664-1078 |pmc=9161288 |pmid=35664177|doi-access=free }}</ref>


The high cost of education leads to significant economic pressure on Chinese families. [http://ciefr.pku.edu.cn/index.shtml The China Institute for Educational Finance Research] (CIEFR)'s household survey showed that Chinese families spent $296 billion on preschool and primary education during 2016–2017.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=代艳 |title=Household education spending totals $296 billion |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/16/WS5a5d5e8aa3102c394518f794.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> This is despite the fact that Chinese governments fund [[compulsory education]] and school tuition is free. However, families in [[Chinese city tier system|first-tier cities]] still spend an average of 16,800 yuan on education for students during the compulsory education stage.<ref name=":9" /> Middle-class parents invested the most among all families in their children's education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-16 |title=Middle class spend less as they scrimp and save for children’s education |url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/2168189/chinas-middle-class-spend-less-they-scrimp-and-save-their |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Lin |first=Xiaoshan |date=2019-06-18 |title="Purchasing hope": the consumption of children’s education in urban China |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-019-0099-8 |journal=The Journal of Chinese Sociology |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=8 |doi=10.1186/s40711-019-0099-8 |issn=2198-2635}}</ref> Middle-class parents want to build 'child capital' by increasing financial investment in after-school tutoring.<ref name=":10" />
The high cost of education leads to significant economic pressure on Chinese families. [http://ciefr.pku.edu.cn/index.shtml The China Institute for Educational Finance Research] (CIEFR)'s household survey showed that Chinese families spent $296 billion on preschool and primary education during 2016–2017.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=代艳 |title=Household education spending totals $296 billion |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/16/WS5a5d5e8aa3102c394518f794.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> This is despite the fact that Chinese governments fund [[compulsory education]] and school tuition is free. However, families in [[Chinese city tier system|first-tier cities]] still spend an average of 16,800 yuan on education for students during the compulsory education stage.<ref name=":9" /> Middle-class parents invested the most among all families in their children's education.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-16 |title=Middle class spend less as they scrimp and save for children's education |url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/2168189/chinas-middle-class-spend-less-they-scrimp-and-save-their |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Lin |first=Xiaoshan |date=2019-06-18 |title="Purchasing hope": the consumption of children's education in urban China |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s40711-019-0099-8 |journal=The Journal of Chinese Sociology |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=8 |doi=10.1186/s40711-019-0099-8 |s2cid=256428266 |issn=2198-2635}}</ref> Middle-class parents want to build 'child capital' by increasing financial investment in after-school tutoring.<ref name=":10" />


Teachers' requirements also lead to extra burdens on Chinese parents. In China, some teachers will obligate parents to help check and supervise their children's' homework.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Matamoros |first=Cristina Abellan |date=2017-12-10 |title=Chinese parents protest against 'stress caused by children's homework' |url=https://www.euronews.com/2017/12/10/chinese-parents-protest-against-stress-caused-by-children-s-homework- |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref> 91.2% of Chinese parents do so.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese students spend almost 3 hours on homework daily, 3 times the world average - People's Daily Online |url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/1221/c90000-9307187.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=en.people.cn}}</ref> Those that fail can be reprimanded by teachers and accused of irresponsibility, leading to stress on the family and their relationships.<ref name=":11" /> The Double Reduction Policy aims to alleviate this financial burden by strictly regulating the tutoring industry and to lessen the pressure on families.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=Eryong |last2=Xue |last3=Li |first3=Jian |date=2022-02-17 |title=What is the value essence of "double reduction" (''Shuang Jian'') policy in China? A policy narrative perspective |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00131857.2022.2040481 |journal=Educational Philosophy and Theory |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1080/00131857.2022.2040481 |issn=0013-1857}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Qichao |last2=Luo |first2=Xiaotong |last3=Yang |first3=Jie |date=2022 |title=Understanding China's Double Reduction Policy on Educational Economy |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2678525598?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true |journal= |language=English |pages=63–69}}</ref> It calls for the development of "home-school cooperative education", which guides parents toward reasonable expectations for their children while the school provides after-school supervision to reduce parents' anxiety about tutoring classes and home supervision.<ref name=":13" />
Teachers' requirements also lead to extra burdens on Chinese parents. In China, some teachers will obligate parents to help check and supervise their children's' homework.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Matamoros |first=Cristina Abellan |date=2017-12-10 |title=Chinese parents protest against 'stress caused by children's homework' |url=https://www.euronews.com/2017/12/10/chinese-parents-protest-against-stress-caused-by-children-s-homework- |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref> 91.2% of Chinese parents do so.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese students spend almost 3 hours on homework daily, 3 times the world average - People's Daily Online |url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/1221/c90000-9307187.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=en.people.cn}}</ref> Those that fail can be reprimanded by teachers and accused of irresponsibility, leading to stress on the family and their relationships.<ref name=":11" /> The Double Reduction Policy aims to alleviate this financial burden by strictly regulating the tutoring industry and to lessen the pressure on families.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Eryong |last2=Xue |last3=Li |first3=Jian |date=2022-02-17 |title=What is the value essence of "double reduction" (''Shuang Jian'') policy in China? A policy narrative perspective |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00131857.2022.2040481 |journal=Educational Philosophy and Theory |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1080/00131857.2022.2040481 |s2cid=246985777 |issn=0013-1857}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Qichao |last2=Luo |first2=Xiaotong |last3=Yang |first3=Jie |date=2022 |title=Understanding China's Double Reduction Policy on Educational Economy |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2678525598 |journal= |language=English |pages=63–69|id={{ProQuest|2678525598}} }}</ref> It calls for the development of "home-school cooperative education", which guides parents toward reasonable expectations for their children while the school provides after-school supervision to reduce parents' anxiety about tutoring classes and home supervision.<ref name=":13" />


=== Student Centered Education: Relieve Student Pressure and Offer High Quality Compulsory Education ===
=== Student Centered Education: Relieve Student Pressure and Offer High Quality Compulsory Education ===
''Opinions on Further Reducing the Homework Burden and Off-Campus Training Burden of Students in Compulsory Education'' specifies the following policy measures to ease students' learning burden:<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |title=中共中央办公厅 国务院办公厅印发《关于进一步减轻义务教育阶段学生作业负担和校外培训负担的意见》_中央有关文件_中国政府网 |url=http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-07/24/content_5627132.htm |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Translate |first=China Law |date=2021-11-03 |title=Opinions on Further Reducing the Burden on Students in the Compulsory Education State from Homework and Extracurricular Training |url=https://www.chinalawtranslate.com/two-burdens/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=China Law Translate |language=en}}</ref><blockquote>
''Opinions on Further Reducing the Homework Burden and Off-Campus Training Burden of Students in Compulsory Education'' specifies the following policy measures to ease students' learning burden:<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |title=中共中央办公厅 国务院办公厅印发《关于进一步减轻义务教育阶段学生作业负担和校外培训负担的意见》_中央有关文件_中国政府网 |url=http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-07/24/content_5627132.htm |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=www.gov.cn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Translate |first=China Law |date=2021-11-03 |title=Opinions on Further Reducing the Burden on Students in the Compulsory Education State from Homework and Extracurricular Training |url=https://www.chinalawtranslate.com/two-burdens/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=China Law Translate |language=en}}</ref><blockquote>
# Clarify the total amount of homework by category. Schools should ensure that there is no written homework to be done at home for 1st and 2nd grades, but fixed practice can be appropriately on campus{{Clarify|reason=fixed practice?|date=March 2023}}; the average time for completion of written homework for 3rd through 6th grades is not to exceed 60 minutes, and the average time for completion of written homework for middle school is not to exceed 90 minutes.
# Clarify the total amount of homework by category. Schools should ensure that there is no written homework to be done at home for 1st and 2nd grades, but fixed practice can be appropriately on campus{{Clarify|reason=fixed practice?|date=March 2023}}; the average time for completion of written homework for 3rd through 6th grades is not to exceed 60 minutes, and the average time for completion of written homework for middle school is not to exceed 90 minutes.
# Increase the quality of homework design. Give play to the diagnostic{{Clarify|reason=give play?|date=March 2023}}, consolidation, and analytic functions of homework, including homework design in the education and research system, systematically design fundamental homework that comports with the traits and learning principles for the age and that embody the orientation towards whole-person education{{Clarify|reason=this whole sentence|date=March 2023}}. Encourage the assignment of tiered, flexible, and personalized homework, resolutely overcome mechanical and ineffective homework and put an end to repetitive and punitive homework.</blockquote>The double reduction policy emphasizes the student-oriented learning mode of teaching students according to their aptitude.<ref name=":12" /> The homework amount of primary and secondary school students has been greatly reduced.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title='Double reduction' policy adds strength to China's education reform {{!}} english.scio.gov.cn |url=http://english.scio.gov.cn/in-depth/2021-12/30/content_77960470.htm |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=english.scio.gov.cn}}</ref> And the problem of lack of sleep and mental health problem has been slightly relieved after controlling homework amount.<ref name=":15">{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Dongfang |last2=Chen |first2=Xiao-Yan |last3=Ma |first3=Zijuan |last4=Liu |first4=Xianchen |last5=Fan |first5=Fang |date=2022-11-28 |title=Has the "Double Reduction" policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6 |journal=Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=91 |doi=10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6 |issn=1753-2000 |pmc=PMC9707210 |pmid=36443852}}</ref> The rate of student with depression dropped from 9.9 percent to 9.4 percent, while student having anxiety dropped from 7.4 percent to 7.1 percent.<ref name=":15" />{{Clarify|reason=you are speaking of results of the policy? If so, I think that should be in a different section|date=March 2023}} The proportion of primary and secondary school students able to complete their homework at school has risen from 46 percent to more than 90 percent, so adolescents now have more time to achieve work-life balance.<ref name=":14" />
# Increase the quality of homework design. Give play to the diagnostic{{Clarify|reason=give play?|date=March 2023}}, consolidation, and analytic functions of homework, including homework design in the education and research system, systematically design fundamental homework that comports with the traits and learning principles for the age and that embody the orientation towards whole-person education{{Clarify|reason=this whole sentence|date=March 2023}}. Encourage the assignment of tiered, flexible, and personalized homework, resolutely overcome mechanical and ineffective homework and put an end to repetitive and punitive homework.</blockquote>The double reduction policy emphasizes the student-oriented learning mode of teaching students according to their aptitude.<ref name=":12" /> The homework amount of primary and secondary school students has been greatly reduced.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title='Double reduction' policy adds strength to China's education reform {{!}} english.scio.gov.cn |url=http://english.scio.gov.cn/in-depth/2021-12/30/content_77960470.htm |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=english.scio.gov.cn}}</ref> And the problem of lack of sleep and mental health problem has been slightly relieved after controlling homework amount.<ref name=":15">{{Cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Dongfang |last2=Chen |first2=Xiao-Yan |last3=Ma |first3=Zijuan |last4=Liu |first4=Xianchen |last5=Fan |first5=Fang |date=2022-11-28 |title=Has the "Double Reduction" policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6 |journal=Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=91 |doi=10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6 |issn=1753-2000 |pmc=9707210 |pmid=36443852}}</ref> The rate of student with depression dropped from 9.9 percent to 9.4 percent, while student having anxiety dropped from 7.4 percent to 7.1 percent.<ref name=":15" />{{Clarify|reason=you are speaking of results of the policy? If so, I think that should be in a different section|date=March 2023}} The proportion of primary and secondary school students able to complete their homework at school has risen from 46 percent to more than 90 percent, so adolescents now have more time to achieve work-life balance.<ref name=":14" />


The double reduction policy has further realized "the cultural approach".<ref name=":8" /> Schools now offer courses across a broader range of interests.<ref name=":12" /> Schools respect every students’ “differentiated learning needs”, personal strengths and individuality, so students can achieve well-rounded development through “after-school services”.<ref name=":12" />
The double reduction policy has further realized "the cultural approach".<ref name=":8" /> Schools now offer courses across a broader range of interests.<ref name=":12" /> Schools respect every students’ “differentiated learning needs”, personal strengths and individuality, so students can achieve well-rounded development through “after-school services”.<ref name=":12" />
Line 42: Line 42:
Chinese netizens have publicly shared their personal views on the double reduction policy, showing the following patterns:
Chinese netizens have publicly shared their personal views on the double reduction policy, showing the following patterns:


# Among the positive topics of public concern on [[Sina Weibo|Weibo]], 45.9% discussed educational equity. The public positively believed that the policy of double reduction could effectively solve the long-standing phenomenon of unequal distribution of educational resources.<ref name=":19">{{Cite journal |last=金 |first=百川 |date=2022 |title=Internet Public Opinion Theme Evolution Analysis Based on Emotion Analysis—Taking the Double Reduction Policy as an Example |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.12677/hjdm.2022.123022 |journal=Hans Journal of Data Mining |volume=12 |issue=03 |pages=211–219 |doi=10.12677/hjdm.2022.123022 |issn=2163-145X}}</ref>
# Among the positive topics of public concern on [[Sina Weibo|Weibo]], 45.9% discussed educational equity. The public positively believed that the policy of double reduction could effectively solve the long-standing phenomenon of unequal distribution of educational resources.<ref name=":19">{{Cite journal |last=金 |first=百川 |date=2022 |title=Internet Public Opinion Theme Evolution Analysis Based on Emotion Analysis—Taking the Double Reduction Policy as an Example |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.12677/hjdm.2022.123022 |journal=Hans Journal of Data Mining |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=211–219 |doi=10.12677/hjdm.2022.123022 |s2cid=249690743 |issn=2163-145X}}</ref>
# For negative topics, the prominent topic public mentioned about is policy influences on [[Sina Weibo|Weibo]]. Some parents complained about hard to get tuition fees back phenomenon after the double reduction policy's crackdown on tutoring institutions.<ref name=":19" /> And some parents believed double reduction policy was just a product of the Chinese government to encourage fertility.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |title=China's Crackdown on Pricey Tutoring Schools Upsets Parents |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_voa-news-china_chinas-crackdown-pricey-tutoring-schools-upsets-parents/6208069.html |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=VOA |language=en}}</ref>
# For negative topics, the prominent topic public mentioned about is policy influences on [[Sina Weibo|Weibo]]. Some parents complained about hard to get tuition fees back phenomenon after the double reduction policy's crackdown on tutoring institutions.<ref name=":19" /> And some parents believed double reduction policy was just a product of the Chinese government to encourage fertility.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |title=China's Crackdown on Pricey Tutoring Schools Upsets Parents |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/east-asia-pacific_voa-news-china_chinas-crackdown-pricey-tutoring-schools-upsets-parents/6208069.html |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=VOA |language=en}}</ref>
# On [[Zhihu]], parents' comments were highly opposed to the double reduction policy. They argued that the policy did not decrease parents' demand for [[tutoring]] classes but only caused higher prices and even created a larger educational resource gap.<ref name=":20" /> In addition, parents believed that competition among students still existed and the closure of private institutes could create more significant parental pressure in supervising children's academic performance.<ref name=":20" />
# On [[Zhihu]], parents' comments were highly opposed to the double reduction policy. They argued that the policy did not decrease parents' demand for [[tutoring]] classes but only caused higher prices and even created a larger educational resource gap.<ref name=":20" /> In addition, parents believed that competition among students still existed and the closure of private institutes could create more significant parental pressure in supervising children's academic performance.<ref name=":20" />

Revision as of 01:58, 5 March 2023

The Double Reduction Policy (Chinese: 双减政策; pinyin: shuāng jiǎn zhèng cè) is an attempt by China to reduce homework and after-school tutoring pressure on primary and secondary school students, reduce families' spending on expensive tutoring, and improve compulsory education.[1]

On 24 July 2021, Opinions on Further Reducing the Homework Burden and Off-Campus Training Burden of Students in Compulsory Education was issued by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council of the People's Republic of China.[2] The policy was prompted by problems with high-stakes exam-oriented education including the physical and mental health of students (e.g., lack of sleep, obesity, anxiety, and suicide).[3]

Background Reason of Policy Formulation: Adolescent's Academic Stress in China

Heavy Time Investment in Study

The time investment of Chinese adolescents in their studies is among the highest in the world.[4] Shanghai students aged 12 to 14 spend 9.8 hours a day on-campus studying.[4] Chinese students' average study time commitment is 55 hours per week, far beyond an international average of 44 hours.[5]

Due to the competitive pressure of the Senior High School Entrance Examination, Junior High School students in China's first-tier cities improve their school academic performance or academic competition through extracurricular tutoring.[4] In Shanghai, more than 45 percent of students attend math tutoring classes at least four hours a week, and more than 20 percent even invest more than four hours in attending tutoring classes.[4] Students from rural areas attend four-hour "evening sessions" offered by boarding schools.[4] In Chinese high schools, “evening sessions" don't end until 11 pm.[6] And Chinese adolescents' tutoring hours during weekends increased from 0.7 hours to 2.1hours from 2005 to 2015.[7]

Lack of Sleep and Obesity

As students need to finish their homework after cram school, students' sleeping time get affected and lack of sleep becomes a common trend among Chinese adolescents.[4][6] There is a positive correlation between the homework amount during weekdays and the proportion of overweight Chinese adolescents.[3] However, sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends shows a negative correlation with adolescent students.[3] The obesity rate among Chinese children aged 5 to 19 exceeded 18 percent in 2016, almost five times the obesity rate (4 percent) in 1975.[8] 7–9 years old young Chinese primary school students have the most significant obesity problem, "5.7% for boys and 8% for girls".[3] 19.6 percent of Grade 1 Chinese students are overweight. And the obesity rate of primary school students in grades 1-3 increase faster than students in grades 4–6.[3]

Suicide and Mental Health Problem

Suicide is the highest cause of death among Chinese teenagers.[9] Seventy-nine primary and secondary school suicides in 2013 were linked to the pressure of exam-oriented education in China and fierce competition in schools.[10] Sixty-three percent of the suicides occurred in the second semester, which was closer to Senior High School Entrance Examination and "gaokao" (National College Entrance Examination). Depression caused by stress is one main factor in suicide, and more than 10% of Chinese adolescents have depression problem.[11] Thirty-three percent of suicides are related to family conflicts, which is even higher than the suicide rate directly caused by study stress (twenty-two percent).[11] Moreover, China currently does not provide adequate psychological resources for students with psychological problems and cause difficulty for students solving mental health problems.[10]

Purpose of Policy Implementation

Alleviate Parental Educational Anxiety and Pressure

Chinese families, influenced by Confucianism and “huge income gaps linked to educational credential”, consider their children's academic performance as an effective means of achieving upward social mobility.[11][12] Parents' high expectations are also linked to the one-child policy, implemented in 1979.[12] Because Chinese families have only one offspring and the Chinese workplace is increasingly competitive, parents place extreme demands on their child to succeed academically.[12] Because of the psychological feeling of "upper-class envy" and "lower-class fears" among Chinese parents, families tend to spend significant educational expenditures, especially on expensive after-school tutoring.[13]

The high cost of education leads to significant economic pressure on Chinese families. The China Institute for Educational Finance Research (CIEFR)'s household survey showed that Chinese families spent $296 billion on preschool and primary education during 2016–2017.[14] This is despite the fact that Chinese governments fund compulsory education and school tuition is free. However, families in first-tier cities still spend an average of 16,800 yuan on education for students during the compulsory education stage.[14] Middle-class parents invested the most among all families in their children's education.[15][16] Middle-class parents want to build 'child capital' by increasing financial investment in after-school tutoring.[16]

Teachers' requirements also lead to extra burdens on Chinese parents. In China, some teachers will obligate parents to help check and supervise their children's' homework.[17] 91.2% of Chinese parents do so.[18] Those that fail can be reprimanded by teachers and accused of irresponsibility, leading to stress on the family and their relationships.[17] The Double Reduction Policy aims to alleviate this financial burden by strictly regulating the tutoring industry and to lessen the pressure on families.[1][19] It calls for the development of "home-school cooperative education", which guides parents toward reasonable expectations for their children while the school provides after-school supervision to reduce parents' anxiety about tutoring classes and home supervision.[19]

Student Centered Education: Relieve Student Pressure and Offer High Quality Compulsory Education

Opinions on Further Reducing the Homework Burden and Off-Campus Training Burden of Students in Compulsory Education specifies the following policy measures to ease students' learning burden:[2][20]

  1. Clarify the total amount of homework by category. Schools should ensure that there is no written homework to be done at home for 1st and 2nd grades, but fixed practice can be appropriately on campus[clarification needed]; the average time for completion of written homework for 3rd through 6th grades is not to exceed 60 minutes, and the average time for completion of written homework for middle school is not to exceed 90 minutes.
  2. Increase the quality of homework design. Give play to the diagnostic[clarification needed], consolidation, and analytic functions of homework, including homework design in the education and research system, systematically design fundamental homework that comports with the traits and learning principles for the age and that embody the orientation towards whole-person education[clarification needed]. Encourage the assignment of tiered, flexible, and personalized homework, resolutely overcome mechanical and ineffective homework and put an end to repetitive and punitive homework.

The double reduction policy emphasizes the student-oriented learning mode of teaching students according to their aptitude.[1] The homework amount of primary and secondary school students has been greatly reduced.[21] And the problem of lack of sleep and mental health problem has been slightly relieved after controlling homework amount.[22] The rate of student with depression dropped from 9.9 percent to 9.4 percent, while student having anxiety dropped from 7.4 percent to 7.1 percent.[22][clarification needed] The proportion of primary and secondary school students able to complete their homework at school has risen from 46 percent to more than 90 percent, so adolescents now have more time to achieve work-life balance.[21]

The double reduction policy has further realized "the cultural approach".[12] Schools now offer courses across a broader range of interests.[1] Schools respect every students’ “differentiated learning needs”, personal strengths and individuality, so students can achieve well-rounded development through “after-school services”.[1]

Primary and junior high schools in China are also explicitly required to outlaw rankings of students' academic performance.[23] The Ministry of Education has emphasized students' personality rights through the double reduction policy, so as to avoid the negative psychological pressure caused by the public examination ranking.[24] Banning rankings protects students' psychological self-esteem, especially for adolescents who are still in a fragile growth stage.[24] The abolition of rankings and “frequent formal exams” has ensured students' enthusiasm for learning and changed China's long grade-centered and test-oriented education system.[23][24]

Public Sentiment On Social Media

Chinese netizens have publicly shared their personal views on the double reduction policy, showing the following patterns:

  1. Among the positive topics of public concern on Weibo, 45.9% discussed educational equity. The public positively believed that the policy of double reduction could effectively solve the long-standing phenomenon of unequal distribution of educational resources.[25]
  2. For negative topics, the prominent topic public mentioned about is policy influences on Weibo. Some parents complained about hard to get tuition fees back phenomenon after the double reduction policy's crackdown on tutoring institutions.[25] And some parents believed double reduction policy was just a product of the Chinese government to encourage fertility.[26]
  3. On Zhihu, parents' comments were highly opposed to the double reduction policy. They argued that the policy did not decrease parents' demand for tutoring classes but only caused higher prices and even created a larger educational resource gap.[26] In addition, parents believed that competition among students still existed and the closure of private institutes could create more significant parental pressure in supervising children's academic performance.[26]

Influences on Chinese Tutoring Industry

About 15 million people in China were employed in off-campus education and training before the policy published.[19] After the Double Reduction policy was implemented, 10 million people experienced unemployment.[19] New Oriental Education Technology Group Co., Ltd. is a prominent player in the Chinese tutoring industry. Its stock price hit its “lowest point of 1.68 in August 2021”.[19] Based on the purpose of cut costs and minimize economic losses, New Oriental Education also cut staff and stopped shifting its business focus from K-12 education consulting to quality-oriented education.[19] Overall, the tutoring industry shrunk considerably. The number of offline tutoring institutions decreased by 83.8 percent, while online tutoring institutions decreased by 84.1 percent.[21] The tutoring industry became highly fungible because schools offered a wealth of learning resources in school and 91% of student attend those activities.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Eryong; Xue; Li, Jian (2022-02-17). "What is the value essence of "double reduction" (Shuang Jian) policy in China? A policy narrative perspective". Educational Philosophy and Theory: 1–10. doi:10.1080/00131857.2022.2040481. ISSN 0013-1857. S2CID 246985777.
  2. ^ a b "中共中央办公厅 国务院办公厅印发《关于进一步减轻义务教育阶段学生作业负担和校外培训负担的意见》_中央有关文件_中国政府网". www.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  3. ^ a b c d e Ren, Hong; Zhou, Zhixiong; Liu, Wenxi Kevin; Wang, Xiujiang; Yin, Zenong (January 2017). "Excessive homework, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and screen viewing time are major contributors to high paediatric obesity". Acta Paediatrica. 106 (1): 120–127. doi:10.1111/apa.13640. PMC 6680318. PMID 27759894.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wei, Kan. "Copying the long Chinese school day could have unintended consequences". The Conversation. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  5. ^ Ma, Yingyi (December 17, 2019). "China's education system produces stellar test scores. So why do 600,000 students go abroad each year to study?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  6. ^ a b "A day in the life of Chinese students | HechingerEd Blog". Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  7. ^ ""双减"之下 教育还要迎接哪些挑战". www.scjc.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  8. ^ Zhang, Na; Ma, Guansheng (2018-03-01). "Childhood obesity in China: trends, risk factors, policies and actions". Global Health Journal. 2 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1016/S2414-6447(19)30115-0. ISSN 2414-6447.
  9. ^ "The rise of youth suicide in China". The Week. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  10. ^ a b "China's Cutthroat School System Leads to Teen Suicides". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  11. ^ a b c Jiang, Shan; Ren, Qiang; Jiang, Chaoxin; Wang, Lin (2021-12-01). "Academic stress and depression of Chinese adolescents in junior high schools: Moderated mediation model of school burnout and self-esteem". Journal of Affective Disorders. 295: 384–389. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.085. ISSN 0165-0327. PMID 34492431. S2CID 237442845.
  12. ^ a b c d Zhao, Xu; Selman, Robert L.; Haste, Helen (2015-12-31). Cheng, May (ed.). "Academic stress in Chinese schools and a proposed preventive intervention program". Cogent Education. 2 (1): 1000477. doi:10.1080/2331186X.2014.1000477. S2CID 154372408.
  13. ^ Yu, Shuo; Zheng, Jiansong; Xu, Zhibin; Zhang, Tao (2022-05-19). "The Transformation of Parents' Perception of Education Involution Under the Background of "Double Reduction" Policy: The Mediating Role of Education Anxiety and Perception of Education Equity". Frontiers in Psychology. 13: 800039. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.800039. ISSN 1664-1078. PMC 9161288. PMID 35664177.
  14. ^ a b 代艳. "Household education spending totals $296 billion". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  15. ^ "Middle class spend less as they scrimp and save for children's education". South China Morning Post. 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  16. ^ a b Lin, Xiaoshan (2019-06-18). ""Purchasing hope": the consumption of children's education in urban China". The Journal of Chinese Sociology. 6 (1): 8. doi:10.1186/s40711-019-0099-8. ISSN 2198-2635. S2CID 256428266.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  17. ^ a b Matamoros, Cristina Abellan (2017-12-10). "Chinese parents protest against 'stress caused by children's homework'". euronews. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  18. ^ "Chinese students spend almost 3 hours on homework daily, 3 times the world average - People's Daily Online". en.people.cn. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  19. ^ a b c d e f Wang, Qichao; Luo, Xiaotong; Yang, Jie (2022). "Understanding China's Double Reduction Policy on Educational Economy": 63–69. ProQuest 2678525598. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ Translate, China Law (2021-11-03). "Opinions on Further Reducing the Burden on Students in the Compulsory Education State from Homework and Extracurricular Training". China Law Translate. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  21. ^ a b c d "'Double reduction' policy adds strength to China's education reform | english.scio.gov.cn". english.scio.gov.cn. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  22. ^ a b Wang, Dongfang; Chen, Xiao-Yan; Ma, Zijuan; Liu, Xianchen; Fan, Fang (2022-11-28). "Has the "Double Reduction" policy relieved stress? A follow-up study on Chinese adolescents". Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. 16 (1): 91. doi:10.1186/s13034-022-00530-6. ISSN 1753-2000. PMC 9707210. PMID 36443852.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  23. ^ a b Hatch, T. (2021-11-03). "Surprise, Controversy, and the "Double Reduction Policy" in China". International Education News. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  24. ^ a b c 陶幸. "Is it good to abolish test rankings?-- Beijing Review". www.bjreview.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  25. ^ a b 金, 百川 (2022). "Internet Public Opinion Theme Evolution Analysis Based on Emotion Analysis—Taking the Double Reduction Policy as an Example". Hans Journal of Data Mining. 12 (3): 211–219. doi:10.12677/hjdm.2022.123022. ISSN 2163-145X. S2CID 249690743.
  26. ^ a b c "China's Crackdown on Pricey Tutoring Schools Upsets Parents". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Double_Reduction_Policy&oldid=1142927559"